For people in the real world, January first is the beginning of the year, but for those of us in academia, the transition from August to September always marks a beginning. This fall, my twenty-seventh at Hotchkiss, I am taking over as the Dean of the Class of 2027. I like the parallel numbers, but when I contemplate what the alignment of 27's means, I think about the fact that I've had a LOT of new years here. Every school year offers a chance to improve–my pedagogy, my coaching, my interactions with kiddos and colleagues. At the same time, I don't lose the experience I've gained (except when my lousy memory kicks in), so even when the students are different, I'm not coming at everything fresh every time.
As I begin my term as dean for another graduation year's students, I have to remember that I'm not coming at this without experience that will help me navigate rough moments. I might not know all of the students in the grade yet, but I do understand a range of issues. I get how to soften what feels terrible and amplify what counts as success.
While "having a fresh start" might sound like a good thing to some, to me it sounds scary. Instead, I'm choosing to consider this year an un-fresh start–but that doesn't sound great either. Maybe I'll take a running start or a head start. What do you think? Please share your suggestions in the comments.