Two summers ago, I worked with a university student who had a dream of earning a doctoral degree. We met several times to revise one piece of writing that stood between him and that goal.
After he was accepted into his program, I often found myself wondering how he was doing. Was he enjoying his classes? Had he found his place? Was he still working toward the vision we had talked about across the table during those writing consultations?
Today, I unexpectedly got my answer.
As I was walking back to the College of Education with a group of Young Writers, I looked up and there he was. We stopped to catch up for a few minutes, and he told me that he's still in his Ph.D. program and doing well.
I can't adequately describe how much joy that brought me.
As educators, we rarely get to see the chapters that come after the ones we helped write. Most of the time, students move on, and we hope they find success, even if we never hear another word.
So every once in a while, it's a gift to run into someone whose story is still unfolding—and to discover that they're still moving toward the future they worked so hard to create.
Moments like this remind me that teaching isn't just about helping students finish the assignment in front of them.
Sometimes it's about helping them take the next step toward a life they're still becoming.