A Gift of a New Semester

Greetings again. I hope September has started well for you.

At the university where I teach, a new semester is beginning. Last week was our first week of fall-semester classes.

This semester follows a busy summer. As readers of this blog might recall: In late spring and early summer, I facilitated workshops in Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Kenya. I also attended the INASP 20th-birthday symposium, in England. And back in Texas, I gave an intensive course in research writing.

I was fortunate to have these opportunities. One thing, though, wasn’t quite so fortunate. . . .

As some of you noticed, in the photo from the intensive course I was wearing a support boot. Well, while hiking in England before the symposium, I had broken my ankle. And so I was on crutches for several weeks.

Luckily, I've recovered well, and I’ve even resumed walking for exercise. The experience certainly reminded me of the challenges that people with disabilities face.

The experience also increased my appreciation of online accessibility. At a time when going to the library was difficult, I was glad that I could access many articles though my computer.

Now another busy semester is starting. For me, each new semester is like a gift. I especially enjoy meeting the new students and, over the weeks, learning their strengths. I hope the students consider the semester a gift too.

If your semester is starting now, I wish you a good one. And I wish everyone a good September.

Barbara