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It’s here. The first day of school has happened, and most of you are well into your classes. What day is it out there? Right now, I’m in the Writing Center at the Learning Studio waiting for appointments, and I can’t wait for my class load to really kick in. Is that weird — that I like [LOVE] going to school? My wife thinks I’m crazy; my friends too.

But it’s not just going to school that I love. I love teaching. Really, I love teaching more than going to class (barely). I love that first day feeling when all the young writers are afraid to talk before the class begins. They’re wondering is my teacher cool or dumb? Or they’re thinking I hope this class doesn’t suck. And I hope when the class is done I’ve been a good [great] teacher and everyone’s writing has improved and many of them hate writing just a little bit less.

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The other day, I was telling someone about my classes and they said, “Jeez man, how long are you gonna be in school?”

And I wanted to say, “Forever, man. Forever!”

But this is my last year. This is it. I’ve been in school since I was 24 (with one year off when Elliot was born). I mean, I went to community college between 18 and 22, but I barely made it out of there. And now, I’m finishing this MFA, and I can see the finish line and glimpses of the future, but it’s kinda sad that school’s almost over. I’ve already decided the PhD route is not right for me, and I’ve already started looking for positions teaching Creative Writing and Composition.

You know that scene in Rushmore where Blume asks, “What’s the secret, Max?”

“The secret?”

“Yeah, you seem to have it pretty figured out.”

“The secret, I don’t know… I guess you’ve just gotta find something you love to do and then… do it for the rest of your life. For me, it’s going to Rushmore.”

Here’s the clip:

The Secret – Rushmore

This is how I feel, kinda.

I want [need] to be surrounded by learning. I think I love to teach because there’s no real terminus for growth. If you’re open to it, you can gro, and get better. But it’s not just about the teaching. I grow as an artist and thinker the more I teach. As long as I’m open to it, it will continue to happen.