Last night I had my last class critique at LBCC. It’s hard to say if this is my last critique ever, because I will probably find ways to teach in some capacity in the future, but when you teach full-time in a program, you build longer relationships and that’s what I had with this group. Right afterwards it felt monumental - I was glad to be able to text my son (it was after 11pm - a 5 hour crit - yikes!) because I needed to share the moment with someone. I felt like somehow, things have happened in a blessed way because while it wasn’t the “last crit” that I dreamed of, it was with a good group of students whom I had known for years and it made it possible to feel companionship right to the end. What a wonderful thing, plus there was the added bonus that they really did beautiful work. Someday I will enjoy having a party here at home with them and get to relax and spend time together in person. 

I feel like I need some type of ritual to mark this experience/moment. Right now, with the protests and riots, it doesn’t feel appropriate to share this on Social Media since what’s happening on the streets seems so much more real and important. But, my friend and colleague Neil had a different opinion - he felt that now, more than ever, it is important to mark and acknowledge these milestones - that our own personal moments remind us of who we are. It makes me think about all the people, throughout history, whose celebrations, milestones, birthdays were swept away in the wave of human events. That must be why my adopted grandmother Suzie always loved a celebration. She had lived through so much and felt that when you have the chance to celebrate, you should grab it. 

So I want to acknowledge the moment and the journey. This job changed my life in ways I never expected. I got the chance to build something - to create a community, to have daily relationships - a family of sorts. At the time, everything seemed so difficult and intense, but looking back, I can see it all more clearly. We had free festivals, events, speakers, contests - I got to watch so many students grow into artists and adults. How fortunate to have had this experience.