February blues

I get the blues from grading and paperwork at the end of every academic year.

Transcript

February is by far my least favorite month. Here in Japan our academic year ends in February, so I have to submit final grades for all of my classes, prepare materials for the next academic year, and do a lot of paperwork.

Grading is no pleasure at all. I enjoy reading students' final reports and creative work, but every year someone fails to submit a report on time or otherwise requires special treatment. As I acknowledge students' accomplishments, I also have to deal with little disappointments and dilemmas. I try to keep high standards, but sometimes I'm torn between justice and mercy. Fortunately, it's easy to consult with my colleagues, so it doesn't become unbearable.

There's a lot of business in February, and most of it involves paperwork. I know I'll get through it all okay, but it's a hard month every year. I can't wait until April, when I can get back into a classroom.