Monday, June 18, 2007

SI impact so far...

It always happens fast... and I never even saw it coming this year.

The first 5 days of SI are in the bag and we are pushing into the next one as I sit here on my day off at Mugs (surprise, surprise). It has been a quick week but an inspiring one. It seems shorter to me because I've been in and out of the room helping with the other 18 or so (feels like) programs that WP is putting on. It just shows all of us the impact that we are having on writing in FC and other areas near here. Young Writers, Week-long, New Teachers, and now Advanced Institute. And soon, Watershed Workshop, add'l YWWs and Week-longs. It's amazing where Cindy's vision has taken us in such a short time.

But as we all know it begins in that "cozy" room (Trudy's positive spin on everything) with different issues each year. No AC or windows in the past. This year it is simply a walk-in closet. SI has changed many and is having an enormous impact on our students. And as fellows of this year's institute, watch for it... it will show up.

It may be September or December before the impact of SI hits you. Sobering up in July and August is always an important part of the process. But as any staff member will tell you, relish in it for the next 3 weeks. Enjoy the anxiety, hard work, deep thoughts, self-exploration, personal space and above all, the people that are in it with you. Every year I love it and being in the room much less this year, I'm realizing how much I will miss it. It changes me for the better every summer and will continue to do so no matter where I am.

Enjoy it while you can...

2 comments:

camdaram said...

Well said, Jas. I don't know if any of us ever "get it" because we are always trying to get better at "it", which is all about understanding, not about an answer.

Anonymous said...

I am changed for the better too. But, personal space!? We're climbing over each other! It is cozy and really, I'm glad.