Comments for BloggEd

Comment on Dr. Ruth touts campus love nests! by Peter J, Renko

Peter J, Renko — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:31:38 +0000

This is Peter Renko. I attended Roper Room in 1957. In the Picture on the left 2nd person. I was only 5 years old. That’s Old me.. LOL. I also attened P.S. 177 which was located on 1st ave and 85 st Eastside Where the Tower Deli Is Robert Iler Sr and I Worked there with Billy Marks. I also was on The Ed Sullivan show at the Sullivan Theater. Than Made a appearance . On the Children’s Hour with the Buttleroff Dancers..Great Memories Peter J Renko

Comment on More on grad school by James

James — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:18:02 +0000

I was in grad school in the humanities when I read the “Just don’t Go article.”

So to this question from Durga:

“i assume who are in grad school, studying something in the humanities, were angered. perhaps even hurt?”

Yes, you could say that.

In fact, I dropped out. I have begun to blog about the personal costs of grad school in the humanities at selloutyoursoul.com, a blog about the hard transition from being a star student to an adult with little employable skills.

Comment on Retreat report by Ed Billings

Ed Billings — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:26:46 +0000

Ben,

I thoroughly enjoyed your observations, and comments you shared. I was not at your retreat, and I am not a part of academia, simply a proud, yet concerned father of 2 children; daughter in high school, and son who is in junior high. He is currently in a summer performance of Charlie Brown, and is playing the role of Linus, which seemingly is a character perfect for him to portray. (While surfing the web for Linus, I fortunately came across your blog!) Both are wise beyond their years in physical age. Linus is an interesting study not only for his insight, dreams, and charm, but also for his insecurity, wit and fascination. He gives us too much material to get bogged down with respective to my point!

You mentioned the discussions regarding objectives, etc. at the retreat. My response would be, what made you choose the career path that led you/your colleagues there? Those answers may be a key for you to consider.

I have always admired the teachers, instructors, and professors that I had, who shared a common thread with many other noble people now and in history. That thread is simply the willingness to reach out to those who seek to learn, and assist them on their respective journey to reach their full potential. Many times we get lost in dealing with the ‘numbers’, but the mission should remain the same. One problem is that in order to be the best teacher, you must be willing to serve. It is difficult to be selfless in these times, but that’s part of the challenge as well.

Make each one’s path a little easier.

Regards,
Ed

Full potential

Comment on Time to re-tire? by Michael Eiseman

Michael Eiseman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:45:20 +0000

Sounds like you’re going through and “Eat, Pray, Love” experience. Nice to hear that you have the courage to make yourself happy. Not everyone does.

And as for the teaching profession – I’ve always said that if the only thing a teacher did was teach, I’d be a teacher. Personally, I take great joy in connecting with with students. Unfortunately, this is only a small portion of what a teacher actually does. You have hit on a few of the reasons that people like me do not become teachers – even if we feel confident in our teaching abilities.

Thanks to you and your family for giving us this view of academia.

Comment on Time to re-tire? by elizabethmosier

elizabethmosier — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:32:30 +0000

I hear you, Ben. Thanks for the (unintended) pep talk!

Libby

Comment on Time to re-tire? by Lisa Romeo

Lisa Romeo — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:14:21 +0000

Sorry to see the blog ending, but I do understand. Good luck with the next year of teaching. I love your writing craft books and refer to them often in my own classes (I teach memoir and creative nonfiction in continuing ed at Rutgers). All the best.

Comment on Study abroad revisited by Wes

Wes — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:02:06 +0000

Corrupt bargain or not–where do I sign?

Also, I’ve overcome geographical envy long enough to point out my current favorite aphorism: “youthfulness and cheerfulness is a kind of passport.”

Comment on Reunited (and it feels so good) by campuscomments

campuscomments — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:50:09 +0000

Nancy, thanks for the comment, especially as it gives me a chance to correct my oversight in mentioning what a fantastic job you did arranging this event. I suppose my underestimating of the number of classmates being honored was a case of wishful denial.–Ben

Comment on Reunited (and it feels so good) by ilivetolearn

ilivetolearn — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:15:48 +0000

Actually, the number is eighteen (or as AP style would have it, 18), sad to say, which would give one about 38% more pause. As I put together the mini-obits, I was wishing I had known them all and vowing to a) befriend more classmates at reunions and b) keep in touch better with long-lost roommates and entryway buddies.

I’m glad I got to meet you.

Nancy Ross

Comment on Be smart, not dumb by Sam Brix

Sam Brix — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:56:32 +0000

Hm. “Be smart, not dumb.” I can wrap my head around that. I could not so much wrap my head around: “I. Am. Powerful.”

As our (UD 2010′s) commencement speaker said these words–which were followed by a sort-of inspiring story about an Ethiopian woman who fed her children only with this knowledge–I kept thinking about those first three words. (Which were restated upward of sixteen times.) The people around me seemed to share a question to throw back at her– “Yah…. but what does that mean?”

At the graduation ceremony I for one was stressed, frightened, excited, happy, nervous, sweating, itching, sweating… and the very last thing I wanted was for someone to tell me I am something totally, inexplicably abstract! (Or at least that’s how the “powerful” mantra felt at the time.) But be smart, not dumb… I can dig that!