29.3.06

Dear Lynn:

It takes a real champion to stand up in front of a class of 20 students and field personal questions about your life. It takes a champion to have been educated in some of the very best schools in the World, and listen sincerely to what a young undergrad thinks might make the world a better place. Lynn, you bravely bared your soul this term, and while it may have taken a few of us a little while to get used to it, we all took bolder steps because of it. The material itself is engaging and fascinating but more importantly, it could have been taught much differently. Thankfully, it wasn't.

Every class we worked in groups, in short order, making presentations in front of the class (something most people associate with paralyzing fear) and sharing ideas. Effectively, every class, something was created--something was brainstormed, in a way that was always challenging, and never hard. By the end of the term I, and many others, were able to stand up in front of the class and confidently present our ideas. I'm amazed at the progress so many of us have made. Brilliant.

Lastly, I just want to thank you so much for your shrewd and ingenious Grand Finale. Miss Luna granted us all one wish, then took it away. Not one student in that class left without a plan to realize their dreams. Amazing. Wrapped in a veil of academia, you find a way to energize 20 or so new SFU students --year after year, term after term-- with the spark to set them on a great, fun, ambitious, caring life!

The sad truth is that many of us never get a chance to meet people who truly love what they do until long after we've 'decided' what we want to do with our lives. Perhaps the most amazing thing, somethingI realized on the very first day, was that this professor with the"split personalities" and deceptively sweet demeanor was one of the most successful champions I'd ever met: her success was not the reason for her happiness; happiness was the reason for her success.

Thank you Lynn for having done so many amazing things, and learned such a rare ability to share it with others in a way that only encourages and inspires.

best wishes

Michael Robson
mike@bcbookworm.com

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