Darin Andrew CO - 300

Darin Andrew

September 4, 2012

Comp 300-003

This I Believe

            Walking into a class for the first time; seeing the professor do that dramatic turn to glare at who just entered their domain. Making a path to the seat of choice you know what they are thinking, “how is this student going to do in my class?” It’s written all over their face. The instructors that stop there with their judgment don’t make any head way with their students. Teachers that make an extra effort in understanding and connecting with me make influential changes to lead me rightly.

            We have all had those instructors that made our lives a living hell. Every day sitting there in class hoping since they’re late they accidently got hit by a bus. Then they show up and your insides scream bloody murder. This is not how I felt sitting in my British literature class taught by a black skirt and white blouse, straight up a classy woman, named Mrs. Hamann. This master degree earner taught me to not criticize your work but understand why you did it that way and show you the way that would be better. During our 10+ page controversial paper (I chose healthcare or during that time it was obamacare) I would go in after school almost every day trying to get an understanding of what I’m trying to accomplish throughout my paper. I would show her my work and she would sit there and say “hmm” while scratching her head. She would always be polite while saying, “are you sure you want to say this” or “put this here because it would definitely make more sense in this paragraph.” Without her expertise and connection with me I would have had some real struggles.

            Unlike British literature chemistry/physics is where my home is. On a daily basis strolling in a classroom seeing a fat 5’9” Einstein looking guy sitting on a stool behind the black lab counter with a grin that could make you laugh anytime of the day. He was the scholar known for doing shenanigans. Mr. Weiss being the humble man that he was would always give everything to his students so they would understand the data presented throughout his class. He was the only professor I had in high school that would actually give us time during class to work on problems. Why he did this is because he wanted to be there if you were struggling instead of doing it all wrong. You could go up to his black countertop lab table and sit on one of his famous stools and work as many problems as you want with him in respect with the other students in the class. While working on problems with him he would connect your issue with daily life that you would put into perspective, like with me it was farming.

            In conclusion, teachers that put forth an extra effort in understanding and connecting with me make influential changes to lead me rightly. Typical description of educators is they are hard asses. Ever thought those are the ones that are pushing you to knock some sense in that 3 pound pink solid of yours.