One Gesture

You know how some days you get to work, you begin your morning routine and you think, "Wow...I'm really on top of things today.  It's a good thing I took care of everything yesterday.  This is making my morning so much easier."  Then, first hour begins.  You realize they are supposed to be taking a quiz...but you have no copies.

As that hour continues, you realize that your attempts at making the research process easier did not, in fact, help the papers.  Nope, the papers you got were, for the most part, plagiarized.  Those that weren't were not on topic.

You stare at the stack of grading on your desk.  You sigh.  You think, "I am really tired today and I have no idea how to fix these problems."

You'll want to cry, but you won't.  No, instead, you'll wait for lunch and think that will be a more relaxing time.

Instead, you'll realize that you are not living up to the promise of eating better at lunch and spending some time walking.  You'll try to think of some way to rectify this problem, but will instead find yourself too tired to leave the room.  Someone will make an off-the-cuff comment, and even though they have no idea it will bother you, you'll get upset.

You'll spend your planning period sending reminders to those who need to work the concession stand because you gained the post of junior head dean.  You will get some grading done, but the stack on your desk won't diminish.

Then, for sixth hour, you'll stand outside your door and welcome your students to class.  You'll smile, even though you don't feel like it, and something interesting will happen.  A student will walk by and hand you a package of chewy sweetarts.  You'll look at him wonderingly and he'll say, "Remember you told us you liked them last year."  You'll be shocked, but you'll smile and say "Thank you."

Then, despite the fact that you'll have to relive the research paper nightmare in 7th hour, it won't be so bad.

Funny how one little gesture can change a whole day.