Yesterday I stopped in to a local music shop and was surprised to come face to face with an old student from a gen ed I taught a while ago. They're now working at the shop, and seem to be really thriving. They were vibing with a customer and showing them how to play a chord on their guitar. Patrons knew them by name. The shop was one of those special places with a clearly intellectual tone - well curated vinyl, lots of vintage instruments, and a cool selection of gear. It was also clear they were well trusted by the shopowner, because they were running the shop alone.
I remember this student being lovely to have in class: engaged, thoughtful, and willing to speak up with disagreements or counterpoints. They could probably "do" a lot more with their degree, but also I never believed that the point of education is to get a fancy job. It was clear to me that this student was doing wonderful things that bring meaning to a rich and vibrant inner life.
They were also so pleased to see me! It was genuinely heartwarming to see them see me, get that look on their face, and go "professor?" And they introduced me to folks in the shop as one of their favorite profs from college!
Teaching surely isn't a popularity game, and it doesn't pay a ton, and it's also not always my top priority with research. Frankly I've been feeling a bit down about teaching for a couple months now after being faced with cuts, lowered standards, apathy, and AI.
But it was a nice reminder that many of my students are now out in the world, and some of them are cultivating wonderful spaces that make their surroundings just a little kinder and little more fun. And, without sounding too full of myself, I think I contributed to that. That little morsel will be keeping me going for a bit.