Being an administrator in higher ed, the “teachable moments” are not always in a classroom. While in China, I got to experience many of those classroom “teachable moments” and yes, my administrative background was a plus when it came to assigning “real” case studies to students on projects.
Ido enjoy teaching a class (or two) each semester. It keeps me in touch with how student culture may change and adapt, and how we as higher ed practitioners also may need to change and adapt to those cultural shifts in our client base.
Teaching has its rewards, but many of those are not evident immediately. In fact, most of the immediate rewards are intrinsic, when I see a particular student “get it” or have one question me to the point that I learn something new. Working with students in various functions keeps me young (in spirit and heart) but the opportunity to have classroom contact is invaluable because the rewards are lasting and long-term.
Today, I got an unexpected reward when I received this letter, from a young (mainland Chinese) woman that was in one of my courses a few years back, in China:
Dear Vince,
How are you? I know that it has been a long time since I wrote to you last time. I am writing to you to express my regards to you. After one year graduate study in Harbin, I went to Exeter which is in the southwest of England for one-year master’s study. It was amazing year.
Exeter lies within the county of Devon. It is called a city but it is more like a town. Temperatures there do not vary much throughout the year so it is neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer just too much rain for the whole year. I was quite adjusted well for the study and life there. People are kind and nice and I was lucky to know some English friends and got along with my Indian and Thai and other friends and also was able to find a part-time job in the supermarket on campus. During the year, I not only furthered my study by learning relevant courses of financial analysis and fund management and passed CFA level I, but also enhanced my abilities on coping with stress, communicating with people with different backgrounds and dealing with different situations.
I got the opportunities to plan the European travel with friends on our own. We visited 9 countries and 18 cities for 28 days and returned to Exeter for my dissertation. I also had the chance to experience the Olympics in London for one day and watched the women’s basketball final match between States and France. This year happened to be the 60 jubilee for England queen and lucky for me to get a glimpse of the queen when she went to my university in May. It is a precious and valuable experience for me.
I got back to China in October this year. Sometimes, my thoughts turned back to the days studying with you. What you taught is more than just HR courses, it is a piece of mind that I always bear. The passion you have for life, the efficiency you made for time and the encouragement and patient explanations to each question I ever had remind me to face the unforeseen future with strong confidence.
I just want to say thank you; no matter what kind of job I will do in future and I feel quite blessed and honoured to be your student and to some extent your friend. I wish I had got back to you earlier and sent my regards, but it is better late than never.
I sincerely hope you well and that we could get in touch if possible. My skype is xxxxxx if you have it and looking forward to your reply!
Yours sincerely,
Jane
Yes, I did get a lump in my throat, and yes, I did shed a happy tear (or two)!