Saturday 11 July 2026
Today’s blog is the transcript of the email I sent to my war class Students of Spring 2025. Last week, I wrote about this Spring 2025 war class, my heart surgery, and the dilemma I faced during that semester. On the second to last day of class, I told them about my health condition. Please reread last week’s post to contextualize this post.
I was so moved by their attendance that I needed to write this “Thank You” note.
D.P.
Announcements
THANK YOU!
Daniel Paliwoda posted on May 6, 2025 10:08 AM
Good Morning, ACM Students;
Yesterday was one of my best classes ever in my 25 years of teaching! And you made that greatness happen because you showed up to class, our last class. When I started the class, I was a little choked up with good emotions. (Pardon the bad pun), what you did was heartwarming. You are good, decent people. You have demonstrated that empathy still exists in the world. I immediately texted my wife and children informing them about your deeds of excellence! As you know, this semester was incredibly challenging–not because of a demanding, challenging course theme like ours–but because I knew when starting it, I didn’t know how it was going to end. The doctor and hospital visits, test after test (How awful to be stuck inside a MRI tube for one hour for one of my heart scans) and added anxiety of being told I need surgery ASAP. This course and in particular YOU as MY STUDENTS helped to keep me as sane and normal as possible. You are people of CHARACTER. Thank you!
I truly felt honored and humbled by being your teacher. Please don’t stop being curious. Please don’t stop reading. Please don’t stop exploring your neighborhoods. Please remain forever Students of Life!
In Friendship,
Daniel