Picture Courtesy of Wikimedia-Commons User Túrelio, Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0-de
My first week back for lectures went well. Every class was full and everyone showed up the first day. I am positive that’s a record, I mean everyone showing up the first day? I’ve never heard or seen of such a thing. Usually the third week about 10 people mosey on in & explain they weren’t there for the first 2 weeks because, well, they weren’t there. No real explanation given, no “I was in a ditch on the side of road unable to get to your class. I swear this class means more than my life.” Which I know is true I mean how could a college course not mean more than your life? As if your life, family, & friends are more important than knowing the differences between Durkheim, Marx & Weber. It’s practical insanity to think those theorists aren’t more important than your Mom.
Another amazing feat of my first week was that I saved a student’s life or at least his vision, hearing & ability to walk. On the first day I explain the differences between Incompletes, Withdrawing & Dropping the course. I let the students know “If you just don’t like me, if listening to me speak, seeing me ever again, or being around me makes you want to jab pencils in your eyes & ears while you jump out a first floor window (which is more dangerous than it sounds, you can really hurt your ankle doing that) then you should drop the class.” Reason being students get their money back & won’t fail the course. Money matters.
However, when a student in one of the classes actually got up & walked across the room, crossing the entire room in front of everyone upon hearing my words, I knew I had saved my student. Just think if I hadn’t made that off-handed comment he might have really jabbed pencils in his eyes & ears while jumping out a first floor window. BUT MY WORDS SAVED HIM. It’s almost like I’m the Mother Teresa of Academia.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
haha love this.
More proof that Teachers/Professors can change lives!
Exactly we aren’t just boring, we are life changers.
Someone just straight walked out of class to drop it?! How rude! I mean, he could’ve at least waited until the class was done!
I love this post. Too funny.
I would have thought he’d have waited too. But I guess it really was life or death.
Hi there! I stumbled across your blog somehow, and have enjoyed reading a few of your posts. I am currently earning my master’s degree (with a husband who is a medical student & in the Air Force) and intend to remain on the PhD track and teach. We are starting to try for a family, and I also love homemaking. Reading your blog gives me hope, maybe I can do it all despite what everyone tells me? Or at least try? Thanks for the inspiration!
Glad you came across me
And definitely don’t give up hope! It’s a challenge but if you love what you do you can make it work.
whoa! i can’t believe someone actually walked out!! and they didn’t even say thank you! RUDE!
I know, the not thanking was pretty rude. I mean if I had my life, vision, hearing and/or ability to walk saved I’d have at least said thank you.
You ARE a hero! But, seriously, if I was gonna drop, I would have waited until after the class and just never come back. That took balls of steel!
HUGE balls of steel. I’m thinking agent in the making.
LOL It sounds like an awesome first week. Should we start calling you St. Beth or Blessed Beth?
Totally. Freaking. AWESOME.
And good question. I should at least get a “The Great” added to my name. Don’t ya think
I can’t believe someone actually got up and walked right out of class. Unbelievable! The lack of manners nowadays is completely astounding. It’s so nice that you “saved him,” but I have a feeling that with brains like that, he’s gonna need a lot of help in his future!
Yes, it’s the first time someone’s done that. And I’ve been doing this for a while now.
seriously – walked out on your class? Doesn’t one usually take classes one needs? Won’t he have to take your class eventually?
This was a course that may or may not be required depending on the student’s program. But still, he could have waited a few minutes longer.