When you're smiling...

This is the last stretch of the last week of my time in Hampshire. I am up to my eyeballs in essays to be marked (done), marks to be input (done), grades to be agreed (tomorrow), reports to be finalised (tomorrow), bags to be packed (tomorrow), new job to be found (and have I been trying), goodbyes to be said (on Friday) and the future to look forward to (on going).

This week has been hard, not only physically (my eyes and brain are still bleeding), but also emotionally. As with all intensive courses, you get to know your students and you start to care for them. You want the best for them but you can't promote them beyond their abilities. This means that, sometimes, they are disappointed. I really don't like seeing disappointment on anyone's face, especially those who've worked hard but haven't quite got there.

I'm hopeful that the grading meeting tomorrow will sort out the wheat from the chaff (and there's not much chaff) and everyone will go home on Friday with a smile on their face.