Going to the first lecture of a course is a bit like going on a first date.
You’re nervous…
He/she is nervous…
You’re hoping it’s going to work out.
He/she is trying to make a good first impression.
You’re ready for the commitment.
He/she is very qualified for the position.
And it’s all riding on the first lecture…
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IF YOU’RE LUCKY: |
AND IF YOU’RE NOT LUCKY |
| This will be the start of a meaningful, enjoyable and rewarding partnership.
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This will be the start of a tedious, difficult acquaintance that you can’t wait to be rid of.
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| He/she will be an incredible conversationalist… They will communicate in a way that makes you interested in the subject. | He/she will mumble unintelligibly and leave you wondering whether there’s any pasta left over for dinner. |
| He/she will be very genuine. They will outline their expectations and hopes in a way that will motivate you to impress them. | He/she will be dishonest. They’ll say they’re looking for one thing, but they mean something entirely different. They’ll make you feel as though there’s no right answer. |
| He/she will want to get to know you. They will assure you that you can always reach them during office hours. | He/she will start their first lecture by saying something like, “Look to your right, now look to your left. None of you will pass my tests.” |
| You’ll find yourself saying, “Wow I could go for another hour of this!” | You’ll find yourself staring at the clock and second-guessing your life-decisions. |
Anyways, we all get great Profs. and not-so-great Profs.
This semester I’ve been reminding myself that every Prof. has a lot to teach me, and that I need to have a good attitude and an open mind to take advantage of my instructors’ knowledge.
At the end of the day… It’s not a date. I don’t have to be BFFs with my instructor.
I just have to be smarter at the end of their course than I was at the beginning.
Hanna Y 