A First for Everything

And today was no exception. Today was the first day I've ever cried in class. My Biochemistry professor announced this morning that she was officially on leave from the university, and in two hours, she would be leaving the University for an indefinite time. There was nothing she could do about it; she wasn't even supposed to be here this morning, but she'd moved mountains just so she could tell us this in person. Dr. Sylvia felt she owed us that much respect. She said her hands were tied and she couldn't tell us the why, only the what. She said it was her decision to take her leave of the University, and it was for medical reasons. She'd give anything to change the facts, she'd move heaven and earth if it would do any good, but it wouldn't. As she is a medical doctor - a neurosurgeon at that - she should know. And that adds a note of terrible finality to her leaving us - I think she dying. People, myself included, started tearing up and telling her that we'd miss her and asking if there was anything we could do for her. And then she consoled us! We didn't even have a lecture today - she simply told us stories - from visiting Berlin back when it was still divided to the trials and tales of her communist friends. She tried to make us laugh with every story, and she never once lost her composure. That speaks of tremendous personal strength, to me. Dr. Sylvia is probably the best professor I've ever had - out of all the professors I've ever had, she's made the biggest impression on me, and I've only had her for two months! I am truly going to miss her.