Why I love my job...

Last semester, I wrote a letter of recommendation for a terrific student.  While she may not have had the highest grade in my class (although, it's pretty hard to get high grades in my classes to begin with), she was certainly one of the brightest, most insightful, and most compassionate students I've had the chance to teach in a while.  She's just a pleasure - and I was so happy to write a letter telling prospective schools that.  She even wrote me a thank you note and gave me a Starbucks card as a thank you (my addictions are well known to my students).

Well, today she sent me an email saying that she had been accepted into her top choice graduate school - one in which we were a little worried because her GPA, while strong, was not stellar (and this is a top notch Ivy program that she wanted to get into).  But they did take her - and boy, are they lucky to have her!  I know that my letter was only one small part of the package, but I would like to think that my being able to say great things about her helped in some small way.  She's a great student, a great person, and is going to do great things in her life. 

This is one of the things I love about my job - knowing that I've had some small role in the lives of people who are going to make this world a better place.  It may not be much, but it keeps me smiling on my way into work.