What Are You Going to Do Next?

by Gina Merys, Director, Reinert Center

The new graduates from a large metropolitan medical school wait in line to climb the three steps to the dais to receive their diplomas before descending the three steps again to return to their seats. The dean exchanges a few words with each graduate—[…] “What are you planning to do next?” […] 

The first had responded, after a moment’s thought, “I’m going to be a world-class brain surgeon.” […] The second, a few hundred graduates farther down the line […] had given the question several moments of thoughtful attention, before replying: “I’m going to turn left and walk very carefully down these three steps.”

Margaret Silf, Compass Points

There have been many moments (whole weeks or more?) over this academic year that I have literally and figuratively collapsed under the weight of overwhelming grief, fear, horror, anxiety, outrage, and disbelief. Letting the unknown of the present and future paralyze me, however, is not actually an option for me, or, perhaps, anyone else. 

As we embrace the slow warming of the sun and the gentle lengthening of daylight that denotes a change of tempo in our day to day of the summer term, I find a glimmer of hope in the question, “What are you going to do next?”.  Making a few small steps every day in continuing to do the things we know are right and good; perhaps taking advantage of a different list of daily expectations to begin doing just one more thing to help deepen our commitments, steady the ship, or make life better for others is essential. 

Some of us will be teaching in the summer term, others will not see students again until the fall semester. In either case, I suggest a deep recommitment to your teaching as a way to extend the right and good in the world. The intellectual virtues of critical thinking, thoughtful reflection, steadfast analysis, and bold creation are the tools we carry every day. Giving some effort to sharpening and shining, tightening and reinforcing the way we use them to the benefit of our students is a next step we can each take this summer. 

If you would like to discuss any of your “next steps,” the Reinert Center is open all summer and we are ready to meet with you.  Please contact us using the confidential teaching consultation request form.