"Working in higher ed is like being a grape.
Each day, you arrive at work plump and full of juice. As the day goes on, you are slowly drained more and more and more, as you give every ounce of your energy to the students you are serving. By the time you travel home each evening, you are no longer a grape, but a raisin. 
And that's exactly how it should be. Every day, you should go to work prepared to give as much as you can to the students you are serving."Right now, I'm such a raisin. I feel like I've been drained every single day. People can be so bizarre sometimes (see previous post Conversations of the Morning). Dealing with people who say things like, "I want to major in... uh... a doctor" or "I don't have internet access, how can I do my online classes?" or "I'm paying out of pocket, and I only have money for tuition, not for the books so I'm going to try these classes without the book" can wear a person down.
But, then there are the students that are serious about school. Ones who are so grateful for your help. Students that you just know are going to make it through school and change their lives in the process. I love serving these students and feeling like I've made a tiny difference in their lives.
Even if I end up as a raisin.
6 comments:
I hope you get more of the later than the first. I really does take the right person to work any form of education, and the students should be grateful that there is someone that cares as much as you. Just try not to take the "bad stuff" home:-)
raisins are great with nuts. :)
You are making more of a difference than you think. My high school and college educators are what got me through school. I wouldn't of finished if it weren't for them. Keep leaving as a raisin.
This verse came to me as I was reading your post tonight. May it be an encouragement to you as you live out what you are called to do.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (New International Version)
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
As long as you don't wind up being an old prune I will still love you.
Love the analogy! I,too, am a shriveled up old raisin each day, especially after I've picked several people's majors for them that day!!!
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