Exits: The semester ends eventually

Poet and author Ariel Francisco on the parallels of this Magic team with his own students, and optimism in competitive growth.

The Orlando Magic’s season ended later than usual, and a day after classes ended this semester. There is something particularly fun about cheering for a team made up of players the same ages as your students. There’s a special kind of joy in witnessing their growth, a pride in knowing that they’re just getting started. Some are graduating with their B.A., some are accepting offers from graduate programs, some are graduating with their M.F.A. or PhD, others are off to residencies, post-docs, publications, and the job market. Some are making the All-Star Team as sophomores, some are making NBA All-Defense, some are even getting votes for All-NBA.

After Game 7, my students held the launch party for my university's undergraduate literary magazine, dedicated to publishing student work. Advising the magazine is one of my favorite aspects of the job: two editors are chosen in the fall, then in the spring I teach a course dedicated to putting the magazine together; the students read all the su…