Retirement and Feelings of Self Worth

           This morning I taught my last Introductory Psychology 1100 Class. This coming Monday I will be teaching my last class at the University.

       The exams for both classes have been finished for a week and we have been spending the last three sessions on some relevant discussion topics (1100) and doing class presentations (1200). 

       The class today was about applying for work and creating responses during employment interviews. I had prepared material including job descriptions and some Common Job Interview Questions that I found listed online.

       We had a good time and I think my students not only enjoyed themselves, they learned some things about the job interview process,

This afternoon I checked my email and received the following comment:

“I’d just like to say thank you for being an awesome professor! I really enjoyed being in your Psych 1100 class this semester, and I probably wouldn't have had much more fun and entertainment than being in your class. So again I'd like to say thanks a bunch! and have a wonderful retirement!”

I don’t think anyone could deny that having students express their satisfaction with our teaching process, is very rewarding and I Think it might be difficult to get that kind of feedback in the outside world especially when we are not socially involved.  Some time ago I came upon the following questions that it might be useful to explore to see how well we are involved with others both prior to and during our retirement. Read them through and see how you can relate to them.

1. I try to pass along the knowledge I have gained                                                 through my experiences.

2. I do not feel that other people need me.

3. I feel as though I have made a difference to many people.

4. I do not volunteer to work for charity.

5. I think that I will be remembered for a long time after I die.

6. I believe that society cannot be responsible for                                providing food and shelter for all homeless people.

7. Others would say that I have made unique                                      contributions to society.

8. I have important skills that I try to teach others.

9. I feel that I have done nothing that will survive after I die.

10.In general, my actions do not have a positive effect on others.

11. I feel as though I have done nothing of worth to contribute to others.

12. I have made many commitments to many different kinds of people, groups, and activities in my life.

13. I have a responsibility to improve the neighborhood in which I live.