In the Fall of 2019 as a doctoral student, I was tasked with teaching my first undergraduate class. I prepared for weeks and was very excited. On the morning of my lecture, I awoke to heavy rains. I was immediately defeated for fear that my students would not attend.

My walk from the parking lot to class was always long. The rains poured down. I arrived a few minutes early and slowly but surely students filled the seats. Immediately, I was inspired and energized.

After my lecture, I began packing my bag and felt a bit of nostalgia. I was beginning to crossover. I was moving from a student to a professor.

As I walked out of class and to the exit doors of the lecture hall, I could see it was still raining. Some students were standing with me, cautious about the rain while those outside looked completely resigned to it. I thought; “These students came to class regardless of the rain. Oh man. Look at them with their soaked backpacks…”