This year during Freshmen Move-In, I was walking around welcoming new students and their parents to campus, giving directions to those who were lost, trying to calm the nerves of parents dropping off their oldest/only/youngest child, and in general trying to be one of the many welcoming faces that were out and about that Friday. Ten years ago, during freshman Move-In, I was doing just that—moving in. My mother and I were assisted in shucking all the boxes I had shipped across country up to BSB3 by those ever helpful sophomore advisors, Greeks, and other Rosies.

Ten years ago, the night before the first day of school, I was woken up by a very, shall we say, “happy” roommate at three in the morning. At the time I was worried about being thousands of miles away from my boyfriend, excited about starting college, worried about getting lost or being late to class, and looking forward to hanging out with the new friends I had made during welcome week. This year, the night before the first day of class, I was putting the finishing touches on my third lecture, trying to remember when the class hours start and end, wondering how long it would take for my students to figure out that I was an alumn, and jealous of the fact that my roommate was already fast asleep while I was still trying to feel like I had enough done that I could get to bed.

Ten years ago on my first day, I was entering calculus 2 with Professor Carlson, second hour. This year, I was sitting in my office second hour printing out handouts for my Meatballs class that takes place fourth hour. I don’t remember being nervous on my first day of classes back then. Of course, back then I didn’t have much responsibility other than to go to class and do my best. Now I am a Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and responsible for teaching material, not just doing my best to learn it.

I planted a mole by having one of our graduate students sit in on the class to let me know how my first lecture went.

This year as I walked into my first class, I was a nervous wreck. I planted a mole by having one of our graduate students sit in on the class to let me know how my first lecture went. Sneaky, huh? I passed out handouts to my class asking them what a new professor at Rose-Hulman should know about the school, and also asking them what I should know about them individually. I stood at the front of the class and thought “Oh my goodness, they are so close!” I felt like my first row was almost on top of me even though I had a desk between them and me. My hands shook as I picked up a dry erase marker and wrote my name on the board; and then I took a deep breath, said a little prayer, turned around smiled at my graduate student mole, and launched into my first lecture.

I was, after all, at Rose. I knew my topic, knew what I could expect of my students, and knew this year would be an adventure. It has been. In the last quarter I have learned that the professors look forward to the breaks just as much, if not more so, than the students. First Wok is still where you can find professors and students alike eating with the 10% Rose discount. I have been mistaken for a student (why thank you) several times, been up doing homework all night (I actually make the rubric for my grader for each assignment), and have gotten to see the excitement on my students’ faces as interviews turn into plant trips and offers. I have discovered just how hard it is to write a problem that is challenging, but not impossible to solve during a one-hour exam.

I rejoice with my students when they do well, commiserate with them when things are not going well, and encourage them when they are working hard to learn what I am teaching. I reply to e-mails and Facebook comments in the evenings and on weekends while I am grading exams and laboratory reports. I run review sessions and try to deliver the topic in a fashion with just enough difference from the way I did it the first time so that the students who didn’t get it then can get it this time.

A lot has changed in the ten years since I first came to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. We have three new buildings (Percopo Hall, Hatfield Hall, and The Apartments) that replaced outdoor volleyball and tennis courts, some of the front lawn/Ultimate Frisbee field, and the old Triplet parking lot. We have a new sculpture in the front lawn, Alpha Omicron Pi has become the third Greek option for women on campus, BSB3 has air conditioning, and the front entrance has changed (again). The old auditorium where musicals and plays were performed on shaky stages while audiences watched from folding chairs, and where I waited to line up for my commencement processional has turned into posh Computer Science offices and a student lounge area. Some things, however, are still the same. The bells still ring to start and end class, the bell tower still sounds everyday with some ditty to make you smile, the passing of weeks can still be told by the stress level apparent in the students’ faces, and the campus still has an amazingly and diversely talented student body. The odds are still good, but some of the goods are still odd, and while I am overjoyed at the increased geographical and ethnic diversity that Rose has gained since I was here as a student, we still need to work on that.

As my 13th quarter at Rose draws to an end, I am honored to be allowed to be here on the other side of the desk this time. I am praying for my students, preparing for the classes I will be teaching this winter, and wondering what adventures I will have next.