warm tinglies, real ones this time

So several of my SS from today's final (the last one) and a couple on Saturday had very nice things to say before leaving and I also had 3 or 4 fun notes on the compo page, and not at all only from the really gifted students. Proof that there are some very cool students out there who can appreciate classes even if they're not super easy.

Further I ran into someone this morning at the coffee shop from Friday's final who ended up borderline (and whose grade, as per my rather infamous policy, I did not round up) who was quite cordial and even offered, quite pleased, that he would be in my class again in the fall for 102. I was a little surprised at his being so happy about it, but said, a bit winkingly, "That's great, Tyler - you'll just have to try to keep up on the homework this time and come to office hours if you miss so we can keep you on track." He grinned and responded that he knew he could have easily made the higher grade and that he planned to be much more diligent in the fall.

Another standout this semester was one of the 400-years-of-prior-French-experience people but with a twist. Robert, in my 10h, who could have run circles around everyone else in class linguistically but just didn't quite do everything necessary to keep his average up, was quite matter-of-fact about it rather than looking for the easy A and griping every time his average dipped from shortcomings on his end. As he was giving me his final the other day he kind of shrugged and said he obviously should have made French more of a priority but really enjoyed being in my class and for me to have a good summer.

See, this is all I want, NO WHINING! Is that too much to ask?!?! If they all could be like these guys I wouldn't care if No One did what they were supposed to. Honest. (One of) My standard complaint(s) goes something like "Why can't they just do what they're supposed to fucking do?!?!?!" But really I don't need students who do every single thing they're supposed to do (altho, yes, it's easiest when they do :). I just want normal students, with whatever shortcomings, but who do not consider themselves so entitled to get credit they do not deserve.

FWIW... Cf. the post title, usually I use "warm tinglies" ironically in here, as here.