Teaching Like a Writer

I have been teaching English at our local community college for 8 years.  I have taught students about writing for so long, but in that time, I have not written anything substantial on my own.  Now, writing on a regular basis has brought a rejuvenation of my teaching practices.  It has informed my teaching; bringing a spirit and substance to what was just becoming a rote process.

Process.  Process matters.  Being in the moment with my students matters.

Writing has given me the gift of empathizing with my students about how hard writing can be sometimes.  I was doing a lecture on the impact of conclusions---how do you end a story?  And, I was able to commiserate with them on a deeper level.  I told them about how I agonize about the endings of my stories I write or even these blog posts.  I was able to demonstrate to my students that I am part of their community.

Every semester, I tell the students in my classes that "we are a community of writers".  I tell them I want to show them how to love writing--not just the "eat your vegetables" kind of writing where it's good for you to do it, but the kind of writing that invigorates the soul.  I talked a good game, but did I feel it?  Not really.  Not authentically.  

By writing often, I actually joined the writing community in my classes this semester.  I am writing with my students- right along with them- as we do in-class writing prompts.  I share what I write. I get nervous. I laugh at the jokes I attempt to make.  I have fun.

My colleague and dear friend always encourages me to "show, not tell".  It's kind of a mantra for us as teachers.  So, you will see an assignment I have written with my students below.  The assignment is to write a story surrounding your favorite song.  Now, every semester, students complain, "But, I don't have a favorite song".  Yet, they come up with magic for their final work.

Here's my attempt at our favorite song story assignment.  I hope you'll find the magic in it.

"Autumn Awakening on a Thunder Road"

"Why did they leave me?" I said to myself in the backseat of our car.  We were driving home on a winding upstate New York country road after having just left my sister and brother at college for the first time.  It was a beautiful day and the autumn leaves were in full abundance.  I didn't care.  I was an only child now.  Don't get me wrong. I loved my parents, but I wasn't used to going it alone.  Who would I get in trouble now?  My brother was gone and he gave me so much material for my brand of little sister tattling hijinks!  I was inconsolable.

As I was wallowing in my tears, a song came on the radio.  This was a different song than any other I had heard in this car.  You have to understand, Dad was the Lord of the Radio.  There was no way I was listening to MY music on a road trip.  It was 50's music or maybe some Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand/Neil Sedaka cassettes.  Absolutely no Duran Duran.

So, this song was different.  I didn't comment or even make any sudden moves.  My parents were in deep conversation, so my dad didn't realize what had come on the radio during his reign.  I sat back and listened Bruce Springsteen for the first time sing "Thunder Road".  If you haven't heard the song, it is about a young man encouraging a woman to set out on the road for new adventures and break from the past.  A few lyrics stood out to me as I heard this song:

"You ain't a beauty, but hey, you're alright.  And, that's alright with me."

You have to understand.  I was 13 years old when I first heard this song.  I was a brace-face with majorly big hair.  There was no way I felt pretty, so this lyric gave me hope that I might have a boyfriend someday....

"There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away....they scream your name at night in the street.  Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet."

Wait!  Not only was I going to be pretty, but boys would be screaming my name in the streets and wailing?  And, I would ignore their pleas because I was going to be so smart?  This is the kind of future I wanted.  My soul soared at the thought!

"It's a town full of losers and I'm pullin' out of here to win"

OK, this line must be what all teenagers sing at one point or another in those years of angst.  I used to chant these lyrics when things did not go my way or I had a bad break-up in high school.  However, I feel very differently about my hometown now and count myself very lucky to have grown up in such a great place.

The song was over.  I was having very warm and happy feelings about Springsteen and all he had to say.  After catching the last bit of the song, my father had another impression.  "That's music for the tone deaf," he announced.  "That guy couldn't carry a tune if his life depended on it."  I reminded my dad of that quote the other day and he said, "I never said that.  Springsteen is an artist.  He's the Tony Bennett of his generation."  I don't know about Tony Bennett, but my dad did have a change of heart.

Springsteen put into words all of those fervent and fierce feelings I couldn't explain.  His artistry made my life tenable during those tumultuous teenage years.  I interpret the meanings differently as I grow older, but sentiments of his songs are indelible---kind of like looking at old pictures in a photo album.

I know it is very difficult to pick a favorite song. I have several.  But, this song had such a strong impact that I knew I had to include it on my all-time favorite list.   

(This is not the best conclusion.  See!  Endings are hard!!!)