They Make them So YOUNG These Days!

This week marked the first week of classes at our local post-secondary institution where I am contracted to teach a Business Communications course. Today was Day 2 and already I have enough blog fodder to write an entire book, but for now, I'll just tell you two short stories because I sort of made this promise to myself not to write about my work, but you know...whatever, I'll take the inspiration wherever it comes from.

So yesterday I had three classes - my first class in the morning with Group "E" followed by two back-to-back classes with the PA Group. I'm a big believer in getting to class early and getting set up so that you know if your equipment is going to work and to calm any last-minute jitters before speaking to the group. Yesterday was no different...I got to my first class about 15 minutes before the class officially began, got myself organized and started greeting the students one by one as they arrived at class. "Hi! Are you here for B-Comm 135? You're in the right place - have a seat." that sort of thing.

It wasn't until they were all assembled at their desks that I really looked at the group as a whole and that's when it hit me. Unlike my students last spring, many of whom were starting second and in one case, third careers, these students are fresh out of high school. In some cases, due to advance placement, some of my "adult" students are only 17 years old. It was like looking at a sea of young Lukes, my talented, charming, smart and sweet 16 year-old nephew. Realizing that I'll be teaching a group that I can address as "Dude" made any pre-teaching jitters immediately go away and I set about reviewing our course outline before letting them go early to get the materials they'll need to be successful in my class.

Today, with this same group of students we were busy working through how to make an effective oral presentation - how to get over stage fright, how to thoroughly prepare for a presentation that sort of thing. We had plenty of time after learning the basic ins and outs of proper business telephone etiquette to give the students an assignment to hone their writing skills. While the class worked at crafting their memos I had one young guy raise his hand to call me over where he quietly asked if he needed permission to leave the classroom to go to the bathroom, now that he's at college.

Isn't that the sweetest thing? When, as an adult, was the last time you asked another adult permission to use the bathroom?

I quietly told the kid "You're a college man now, you don't ever have to ask permission to pee again."

Welcome to the big leagues, Grasshopper!