Yesterday we dropped our youngest child off at college. We have done this twice before and it does not get any easier. By the time we drove away in our huge rental minivan, I was sore, dehydrated, and a little dazed. The bicycle, giant duffle bags, small bits of furniture, tea bags, contact lenses, monitor, coffee maker, bedding, bathroom supplies, and my son had all been unpacked. The giant car and I were both similarly empty. The van was delightfully air-conditioned after a day of admiring the view from the 4th floor dorm room on a very muggy day in Dutchess County, NY and that was very comforting. During this long day, there were many activities for students and parents. We wandered the lush, verdant campus (it seemed even larger in the heat) and listened to administrators tell us that they will challenge, transform, and take care of our children. I think we all chose to 100% believe it in that humid and emotionally fraught moment. It was a lot. I’m feeling the aftermath physically and spiritually this morning.
This afternoon, I will teach the first ASP orientation class for one section of our fabulous 1Ls[1]. They started orientation yesterday and will have events throughout the week to get them ready for being a 1L. I will try to cram all the necessary academic support information into their heads over the next two days that I have the privilege of teaching them, but I think my experience yesterday will remind me of a few things as I move forward:
- The energy of new students is something that should be harnessed- it is clean and renewable.
- These new students are likely to believe very word you say because this is a scary time of transition. It is scary even if you were born thinking you want to be a lawyer. I will choose my words carefully. I don’t want some glib thing I uttered in orientation to be the voice in their heads for the next 3-4 years. If they are going to channel me throughout law school[2], I am hoping it will be something profound (or more likely comforting, because have you met me?).
- These students do not know their way around–physically or culturally. I know the law school is in one building but giving directions (and signage–yay for signage!) will really help. And some patience on my part in answering the questions outside my “jurisdiction” will be key (even if it is just who else they should ask besides me).
- This is still a social situation, and even though everyone is an “adult”, for some students, meeting 400+ new people will be overwhelming. I will remember to remind students about the sessions where they will be in smaller groups during the week. I will try to build community in our time together.
- Our students are likely tired, sore, and maybe a little sad today too. Some have moved large geographical distances, and some have moved large mental distances to be here. That is hard.
As we all head off to orient our students,[3] let’s remember that they are feeling all the feels this week and sometimes the best we can do is tell them, over and over, that we truly want them to succeed and exactly how to find us later on.
And yes, if you see me this week, I do need a hug.
(Liz Stillman)
[1] We have an accelerated program that started in May and teaching those students was also extremely fabulous.
[2] And that is a big “if.”
[3] Yes, I am always tempted to put a google satellite picture of our building on a slide with a big red x that says, “you are here” and drop the mic, but I feel that this may be too minimalist.
