Change is hard. In our lifetime, we will all face many decisions that will test who we are. All you can hope is that you make the right choices, and if you don’t, then come away learning from your mistakes. Recently I’ve made one of those life-changing decisions, and it is probably the most difficult decision I have made at this point in my life and career.

Six years ago I was finishing up my graphic design thesis for graduate school and had been exploring many employment options. I came across an ad online for a part-time staff and part-time faculty position in the Communications Department here at Loyola. Out of all the jobs I had been considering, there was just something about this that stood out.

I love working with computers; part of this job was to manage one of the department’s computer labs. I love working with people; part of this job was to teach an Introduction to Layout and Design course. I must admit the teaching part scared me a bit in the beginning. I think teaching is the most important job in the world and should never be taken for granted by neither the teacher nor the pupil. My first semester was jam-packed with new staff/faculty orientation events, meeting my new colleagues, remembering the names of the students in my class, finding campus parking, while trying to find where different offices and departments were. The first day of class was funny. I think when the students first saw me prepping for class, they thought I was a work study student setting up for the professor, and then I cleared my throat to say, “Hello, My name is Professor Woodfork.” It still happens every now and then, and it still makes me smile. I need that now, as I am getting and looking older these days. My first office was so close to the labs where my students worked that sometimes I had to close the door and turn off the lights to get some work done. But I always had a few persistent students that would bang on the door and say, “I know you’re in there. Can I show you my project … please?” I could never resist. It really made me work harder when I saw students excited about design and their willingness to put in the hard work it took to create a successful, finished product. After I started teaching, I wrote letters to my own professors from school, thanking them for everything they taught me and explaining to them that now I am on “the other side” of the classroom. I understand the value of them as people and what they taught. Part of being a teacher is not just teaching, but remembering to be a student, and always looking for opportunities to grow and learn.When I hit my fourth year, it bought to mind that I’ve been here long enough to see students grow from freshmen to seniors. It’s great to see how the students have grown, especially now when I get to hear about their “real world” job experiences after graduation. It’s difficult to say one thing that I would miss about being at Loyola, because there are so many different things. What I can say for sure is that I will miss being a part of Loyola. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the faculty and staff of the Communications Department for believing in and nurturing me from my first day here on campus. I’ve learned so much from each of you and I will carry that knowledge with me always.

Loyola students, there are so many of you here and that have graduated that are near and dear to my heart. I am going to miss seeing you work, seeing you struggle and seeing you succeed. I may not be here physically, but you will always be in my prayers.