On a mild fall Minnesota day in August 1977 I stood in front of a room full of wide-eyed students and realized: I'm here all alone! After successfully surviving my first day of "real teaching," the next several thousand days or so never seemed quite as scary. But, each time I meet a new class, the first few minutes always bring me back to that eventful day in 1977.

Their eyes were wide. Their gazes fixed.
They looked at me! My thoughts were mixed.

They listened up while in their seats.
They looked at me -- I stood on feets.

They though of me as friend and preacher.
They looked at me and called me "Teacher."