In mid-May I always feel as though a long summer is stretched out before me with infinite possibilities. My list of essential projects is quite long. But, I always have another list of other projects that I want to complete but never am able to during the academic semesters. Then there is the list of "wishes" – the exciting ideas that I hope to implement in any leftover time.
And each year I notice it is suddenly September; I wonder what happened to the summer. The essential projects are all crossed off my list. A number of the other projects were also completed. But my wish list received less attention than I had hoped. A few of those items are in place, but many are wishes to be implemented at a future time.
Many of the "lost" hours have been spent well in one-on-one conferences with students. Some of the "lost" hours have been spent in planning meetings to implement new programs or tweak already existing programs. A few hours were truly lost in unnecessary bureaucracy or waiting on others.
I count each of the student conferences as worthy of my time. After all, the students are the reason I am here. And, without the meetings, I would be unable to implement and tweak programs that benefit my students.
So, I start my new "wish" list to include the ideas that most likely will wait until semester break or next summer. I begin a new "essential projects" list for the things that come with the territory of a fall semester. I begin a new "other projects" list for the next level of projects waiting to be completed in between the essentials.
I add my fervent wish for more hours in a day to do it all. And then I settle for doing the best I can with the hours I have each day. Such is the life of a typical and very human ASP professional. (Amy Jarmon)
