Pioneer Scholars Day

I woke up earlier than usual for a variety of reasons, but the main one is because of a slight schedule disruption today.  We don't have classes at Spartanburg Methodist College today, but it's not because we have a day off.  We have a special academic day that we're calling Pioneer Scholars Day.  It's a mix of academic and artistic presentations in the morning, and in the afternoon, graduating students present their capstone projects and other culminating academic events.

It's a HUGE thing to assemble, and I'm glad that I'm not in charge--but also glad that I am at a school that has people who are willing to do the organizing work.  The rest of us have all sorts of duties and responsibilities; in fact, all full-time faculty have to do a 5 hour shift of support work.

In my younger years, I might have complained bitterly about this requirement.  Now I'm feeling no resentment, a fact which intrigues me.

Part of it is that the requirement seems reasonable.  We don't have to teach or do other duties.  We're not coming in on a Saturday or Sunday.  And we're at a small, liberal arts college--we should be doing this kind of event.

I decided to choose the morning shift, which means I need to be on campus by 7:30, a bit earlier than usual.  The afternoon session ends at 5:30, which would mean traffic congestion on both sides of my commute.  I do regret having to give up my morning walk, but I don't resent it.

I also don't resent it because I've wanted to be at a school like this one for so long.  It's wonderful to be at a place that celebrates student intellect, and a school that knows that students can have a wide range of intellect.  I am a lucky woman.