It’s time to retire — once again | Community | richmondregister.com – Richmond Register

It's time.

To retire.

Again.

In 2005, I retired from WEKU after 24 years as news director. For the past 15 years, I've been teaching communication classes part-time at EKU, but I plan to take the fall semester off.

And I might not return to the classroom after that.

I've been thinking about turning in my textbook for awhile. Now, two unrelated developments have nudged me in that direction.

First, our oldest daughter is moving to Madrid to teach English and I want to explore Spain with her before her school starts in October. Second, I'm not sure I am ready, willing and able to make adjustments necessary to teach in a post-COVID-19 setting.

It's been a good run, though. I couldn't have asked for better colleagues, department chairs, working environment and support.

Truthfully, I was rather clueless when I started teaching Human Communication. I sincerely apologize to students who suffered through my first class. There was definitely a learning curve in planning lessons, preparing lectures, engaging students, and assigning grades.

Next, I team taught news writing classes, which was my personal comfort zone.

The lessons were easy since I'd spent nearly 30 years gathering, recording, writing and delivering news stories for commercial and public radio and TV stations. So, I covered the broadcast reporting chapters while my colleague did the print version.

As a bonus, I picked up plenty of pointers from my partner, who was a more experienced professor. And together, I believe our aspiring journalists were well prepared for their future careers.

Since I like trying new things, I switched to public speaking when it was offered. That's where I found my niche. I get bored easily, but this class has captured and kept my interest.

It never gets old.

Each semester I meet a new set of students with different backgrounds, experiences and passions. I've had international students from Nepal, India and Mexico. I've had a deaf student and his interpreter. I've had high school students taking their first college class, some who were classmates of my own kids. I've even had a student deliver her baby during the semester--but fortunately not during class.

The students choose their own topics for their demonstration, informative and persuasive speeches and I've been fascinated by the people, places, ideas and objects they've researched and shared.

They do all the hard work. I just kick back and enjoy learning new things.

On the lighter side, I've vicariously gone on mission trips to Haiti and studied abroad in Thailand. I've traveled to Iceland and marveled at magnificent waterfalls. I've been in bass fishing competitions. I've attended an Indian wedding and celebrated a Quinceanera. I've learned tricks to winning at Texas Hold 'Em. And I've tried to follow a few dance steps popular on TikTok.

I've learned survival skills from a student who was lost in the woods for several days with her brother. I can better appreciate what it takes to become an Eagle Scout from one who achieved that high honor. I'm also calmer thanks to hearing more about the impact of essential oils.

On the more serious side, I've learned the dangers of ATV riding from a student who suffered a traumatic brain injury. I can recognize triggers for someone suffering from PTSD because a former soldier/student was brave enough to share his war-zone experiences. I'm more aware of the causes, impact and treatment of eating disorders from a student who was hospitalized when her weight fell to a dangerous level. I'm better prepared to detect signs of someone contemplating suicide thanks to a student who had attempted to end her life.

On the down side, I've had a student who passed away during the semester. I've caught three students plagiarizing their speeches. I've had a student, upset by a grade, who tore up his paper and stormed out of the classroom, and one who was indignant about being counted absent when he slept during class.

One student came regularly and participated in discussions, but never turned in assignments. When I explained that he couldn't possibly pass because of all the zeroes, he continued to attend, saying he really liked the class.

At the end of each semester the students write a reflection paper of how they've grown as a speaker. Most start with how anxious they were about speaking in front of strangers and how they'd even considered dropping the class. However, they're glad they didn't -- they've made friends, survived their fears and learned to enjoy the process.

I've even encountered past students whose speaking skills earned them jobs as a spokesperson for the Kentucky Beef Association and workshop leader for her nursing staff.

I know I'll miss my students. But it's time to move on to something new.

Whatever that might be.

Read the rest here:
It's time to retire -- once again | Community | richmondregister.com - Richmond Register