When I was in college, my sorority hosted a dessert each spring. There were lovely engraved invitations that you could mail or hand to your favorite professor that you wanted to thank (or brown-nose). or to the TA that you had a totally inappropriate crush on. There were flowers and linens and china cups.
As a sister, you were excited when the teacher you'd invited came - it was an honor that they'd accepted your invitation, and it was fun to make small talk with the chairman of the chemistry department over cheesecake and coffee. The professors must've enjoyed coming because the event was always well-attended, and I had a TA once tell me that among grad students an invitation earned certain bragging rights.
The whole thing was so lovely and gentile and I was thinking of this today when a student said to me, "If I don't graduate, Ms. Phillips, and something big goes down at this school ... I assure you that you will not be harmed in any way."
Appreciation comes in all forms.
As a sister, you were excited when the teacher you'd invited came - it was an honor that they'd accepted your invitation, and it was fun to make small talk with the chairman of the chemistry department over cheesecake and coffee. The professors must've enjoyed coming because the event was always well-attended, and I had a TA once tell me that among grad students an invitation earned certain bragging rights.
The whole thing was so lovely and gentile and I was thinking of this today when a student said to me, "If I don't graduate, Ms. Phillips, and something big goes down at this school ... I assure you that you will not be harmed in any way."
Appreciation comes in all forms.