@ccjones13 Hi dsanson.

@ccjones13 FYI former students of the world - this applies to teachers of all levels! Not just university.

@ccjones13 Absolutely the best sort of email.

@ccjones13 Co-sign!!

@ccjones13 Couldn’t agree more!
A while ago a friend (not a close friend) messaged me to ask how I was doing. We haden’t spoken for months, and I was waiting for "I need help with something", but they just genuinely felt like asking me how I was doing, which moved me: they cared enough to take the time to ask.
It changed how I do things. I don’t care if it might be weird, if I think "I wonder how X is doing?" I try to act on it, and actually reach out and ask!

@ccjones13 I emailed a former professor who teaches one of the hardest courses in the major and is fairly well feared among students to thank her for all the extra lessons she taught in the PROCESS of going through her class work.

@ccjones13 long ago I wrote the former professor who I most idolized--highly prominent man. Seemed self sufficient & aloof, even (actually introverted & shy)--but after retirement & his wife's death, he was lonely and depressed. He really appreciated contact with a former student-and support from them. (Awards and public notice from colleagues are not the same thing)

@ccjones13 One of my students in Derivatives class called me to tell me he had contacted an up and coming author friend to have him help with his manuscript of a syfy book. I am all in with their dream.

@ccjones13 such a good shout. I love getting emails from past students. It always makes my day!

@ccjones13 yes! I have a friend who is a teacher and this is something he talks about being a big joy in his life. I wrote a piece about how I befriended my high-school literature teacher after reaching out to her nearly 30 years later. We even had coffee together. From the student side it’s also delightful. (If you’re interested in the story about her: https://markwyner.medium.com/teachers-are-for-inspiration-not-militias-60bfb140442c)

@ccjones13 yes! We would love to hear what you are up to and how you are doing!

@ccjones13 100% agree. I teach digital marketing and I love when my former students reach out to let me know how they are.

@ccjones13 I did this a few months ago. I'm in my 50s so it was 30 years ago. He really appreciated the message.

@ccjones13 I've done this a few times and it was definitely well received ❤️

@ccjones13 well now I just might email my favorite professors just to say hi.

@[email protected] This is great advise. I love some of the conversations I have had with my previous professors. They seem to like them as well... Or at least they keep engaging.

@ccjones13 Yes! These are THE BEST.

@ccjones13 That's nice to hear. My son had a professor last year for a series of classes at the University of Washington (coincidentally named "Christopher Jones"!) who he just loved. I will tell him that from the professor point of view it's perfectly okay to check in and say hello.

@ccjones13 confirmed! I got over this and reached out to my Performance Studies professor from like 2009 and it was a really nice moment for me (and, it seems, for him.)

@ccjones13
What if my email was going to be "your teaching style put me off functional programming for 20 years"? :-)
@marick

@ccjones13 I would love to contact a specific former Prof but he seems to have gone completely off-grid.

@ccjones13 hearing from former students and how they have grown professionally post graduation is the absolute best! 10/10 highly recommend

@ccjones13 Indeed. The “thank you” emails I receive from my former high school students are gold.

@ccjones13 i continue to be pen pals with my high school biology teacher from 20+ yrs ago....she sent me this card last month 🥹

@ccjones13 weirdly I looked up my faculty just the other day out of morbid curiosity. They were all different from when I was a student, except one guy who was new when I was there and is now head of department.

@ccjones13 such a great advice from the perspective of recipients!

@ccjones13 I email former professors once in a while. I should do that this weekend!

@ccjones13 totally agree. Brings such joy to the day getting those emails. Especially when you hear of where your students have headed too. The diversity of roles they take up in society always brings such joy.

@ccjones13 My favorite letter EVER from a former student