First Impressions
The dreaded first day of facing new people is over. I don't think I'll ever get over that no matter how many times I do it. I stuggled with it to the point that I had a hard time sleeping last night. I did finally fall asleep in the wee hours of the morning and woke to covers that showed much evidence of tossing and turning. The small classes are worse than the large ones because then I KNOW every eye is on me. At least with the large classes I can attempt to convince myself that I'm lost in the crowd. I have 2 such large classes this semester.
I've formed my first impressions of the classes and the professors. It will be interesting to see if first impressions hold up. It's hard to withhold those snap judgments even though past experiences have led me to realize that I may very likely change my opinion. For instance, I went into my chemistry class at WKU totally dreading it, and my first impression did nothing to allay that dread. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying that class. On the other hand, I went into my chemistry class at UTC anticipating the same kind of experience and was sorely disappointed.
My first class was anatomy. This is the first time I have a female professor. She is a little on the elderly side of life...probably upper 50's. She isn't just bursting with energy, but I'm not sure if one can be when teaching about all those body parts. She definitely isn't familiar with the effects of gravity upon dry-erase markers. As is the inclination of most people when writing something higher than one's shoulder, she kept the tip at the high point rather than the low point. She promptly starting throwing one marker after another in the trash. Knowing how costly those markers are, I cringed every time another one bit the dust, for if I were a betting person, I'd bet they have plenty of life in them if only they were tilted so that gravity would draw the ink toward the tip rather than away from it. I may have to advise her on that point before class next time. She also had us fill out a paper with our particulars...name, contact info, major, etc. Then she proceeded to call out all 90 plus names on her roster which took almost the rest of the class period. But even though she doesn't seem the most efficient person, and didn't have a rapport with her electronic equipment, she does seem likely a kindly lady. Time will tell.
After that I was off to my English class--Rhetoric and Composition. Now this class will truly be the bane of my existence for I thoroughly dislike writing. I came hurried up to the door wondering if all the good seats would be taken. I screeched to a stop in the doorway for it seemed the class was in session even though it was a full 5 minutes from start time. Most seats were filled, and a lady was at the front speaking. Of course, much to my horror, she stopped in mid-sentence, and all eyes turned my way. Casting my eyes desperately about for a seat, I was at the same time wondering if this was the wrong class. So I feebly asked amid the silence and stares if this was English 122. The lady assured me it was, so I humbly climbed over people to the nearest available seat. The lady finished her sentence about somebody needing to go to some other room and left the room. Everybody sat in deathly silence until this guy comes huffing and puffing into the room with a motorcycle helmet under his arm. I was much comforted to have this momentary diversion. And there we sat in total silence until about 15 minutes past time to start. At 15 minutes after on the dot, half the class arose and filed out. Those left behind started talking here and there. The room gradually emptied out, and I too finally gave up waiting at 30 minutes past. So I have no first impressions of that professor except to wonder if there even is one. My class schedule only lists the professor as staff. It is my understanding that graduate students often fill those positions.
I was grateful that I had a little extra time to find my way to my next class. I didn't want to experience that arrival to a full room again. Not one of my 4 classes were in the same building, and I only have 10 minutes between classes to reach the next destination. Fortunately, I only have one hill to slow and it's nothing like a WKU hill. There is one hill that they call "cardiac hill" which leaves you sucking wind a bit, but I just smile and think about my sisters making their daily cardiac rounds.
The next class I met up with another "adult" student who promptly latched onto me proclaiming that I'm her "person." She always has to have a "person" in her class and I'm it. She proceeded to give my her life story including her latest internet romance with a man from Louisville whom she just met last weekend in Nashville.
This class happens to be my music appreciation class. This class also has a female professor who isn't in the least afraid of facing over 100 students. I think I'll like this class, but one never knows. I had to pay 25 bucks for 2 CDs that are used! And that is in addition to the $48 I spent on the textbook. I think that's totally outrageous! I shall peruse half.com this evening and see if I can't find them cheaper. The cool thing is that we are required to go to at least 3 concerts. Now I won't have to feel guilty for taking off of work since it's mandatory. The sad thing is that I'll either have to burn some annual leave or take leave without pay. I wonder if I could just call in sick.
My 4th and final class was World Civilization. I really have mixed feelings about this class. It is the first of three I have to take to fulfill one of my general education requirements. I chose World Civ rather than Western Civ because I thought maybe I'd learn something about some of those places I plan to go one day like Africa and Asia or maybe India. This first of the three will be the worst one because it is the time period of the "beginning" to 1000. Now how does one deal with material that is in direct contradiction to ones own beliefs? Fortunately only the first chapter deals with the 15 million years during which man evolved from an ape. But I have come face to face with the concepts of Neandertals and Cro-Magnons and Australopithecines and hominids during the paleolithic and neolithic eras to which my sheltered Christian education never exposed me. That, along with the concept that large portions of the earth was covered in ice which receded over time, makes a person's head swim.
To top off this wonderful class, the professor tells us in no uncertain terms that this is a difficult class. Mostly because we will be studying cultures that are totally foreign to us. Most of our focus will be on Asia, India, and the Mediterranean societies. We will be facing a lot of names we won't know how to pronounce along with religions that are totally foreign to us. Of course, this was exactly why I picked this option for my history requirement, but I hadn't considered that the unfamiliarity of the cultures would also make it more difficult to learn about. I'm totally withholding judgment on this professor. He's not normal, that's for certain. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing....who knows. He has these really deep, deep-set, peircing blue eyes and they seem to be almost rimmed in black. The eyes along with the way he paced very stiffly around the front of the class reminded me very much of a mime. He didn't make much eye contact and seemed very ill at ease. I totally had a hard time concentrating on what he was saying at first because I couldn't get past his mannerisms. Then I had the distinct impression that he has a German background because he pronounces his v's as f's. It makes me totally curious.
So with much anticipation and trepidation, I start off another semester in academia.
I've formed my first impressions of the classes and the professors. It will be interesting to see if first impressions hold up. It's hard to withhold those snap judgments even though past experiences have led me to realize that I may very likely change my opinion. For instance, I went into my chemistry class at WKU totally dreading it, and my first impression did nothing to allay that dread. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying that class. On the other hand, I went into my chemistry class at UTC anticipating the same kind of experience and was sorely disappointed.
My first class was anatomy. This is the first time I have a female professor. She is a little on the elderly side of life...probably upper 50's. She isn't just bursting with energy, but I'm not sure if one can be when teaching about all those body parts. She definitely isn't familiar with the effects of gravity upon dry-erase markers. As is the inclination of most people when writing something higher than one's shoulder, she kept the tip at the high point rather than the low point. She promptly starting throwing one marker after another in the trash. Knowing how costly those markers are, I cringed every time another one bit the dust, for if I were a betting person, I'd bet they have plenty of life in them if only they were tilted so that gravity would draw the ink toward the tip rather than away from it. I may have to advise her on that point before class next time. She also had us fill out a paper with our particulars...name, contact info, major, etc. Then she proceeded to call out all 90 plus names on her roster which took almost the rest of the class period. But even though she doesn't seem the most efficient person, and didn't have a rapport with her electronic equipment, she does seem likely a kindly lady. Time will tell.
After that I was off to my English class--Rhetoric and Composition. Now this class will truly be the bane of my existence for I thoroughly dislike writing. I came hurried up to the door wondering if all the good seats would be taken. I screeched to a stop in the doorway for it seemed the class was in session even though it was a full 5 minutes from start time. Most seats were filled, and a lady was at the front speaking. Of course, much to my horror, she stopped in mid-sentence, and all eyes turned my way. Casting my eyes desperately about for a seat, I was at the same time wondering if this was the wrong class. So I feebly asked amid the silence and stares if this was English 122. The lady assured me it was, so I humbly climbed over people to the nearest available seat. The lady finished her sentence about somebody needing to go to some other room and left the room. Everybody sat in deathly silence until this guy comes huffing and puffing into the room with a motorcycle helmet under his arm. I was much comforted to have this momentary diversion. And there we sat in total silence until about 15 minutes past time to start. At 15 minutes after on the dot, half the class arose and filed out. Those left behind started talking here and there. The room gradually emptied out, and I too finally gave up waiting at 30 minutes past. So I have no first impressions of that professor except to wonder if there even is one. My class schedule only lists the professor as staff. It is my understanding that graduate students often fill those positions.
I was grateful that I had a little extra time to find my way to my next class. I didn't want to experience that arrival to a full room again. Not one of my 4 classes were in the same building, and I only have 10 minutes between classes to reach the next destination. Fortunately, I only have one hill to slow and it's nothing like a WKU hill. There is one hill that they call "cardiac hill" which leaves you sucking wind a bit, but I just smile and think about my sisters making their daily cardiac rounds.
The next class I met up with another "adult" student who promptly latched onto me proclaiming that I'm her "person." She always has to have a "person" in her class and I'm it. She proceeded to give my her life story including her latest internet romance with a man from Louisville whom she just met last weekend in Nashville.
This class happens to be my music appreciation class. This class also has a female professor who isn't in the least afraid of facing over 100 students. I think I'll like this class, but one never knows. I had to pay 25 bucks for 2 CDs that are used! And that is in addition to the $48 I spent on the textbook. I think that's totally outrageous! I shall peruse half.com this evening and see if I can't find them cheaper. The cool thing is that we are required to go to at least 3 concerts. Now I won't have to feel guilty for taking off of work since it's mandatory. The sad thing is that I'll either have to burn some annual leave or take leave without pay. I wonder if I could just call in sick.
My 4th and final class was World Civilization. I really have mixed feelings about this class. It is the first of three I have to take to fulfill one of my general education requirements. I chose World Civ rather than Western Civ because I thought maybe I'd learn something about some of those places I plan to go one day like Africa and Asia or maybe India. This first of the three will be the worst one because it is the time period of the "beginning" to 1000. Now how does one deal with material that is in direct contradiction to ones own beliefs? Fortunately only the first chapter deals with the 15 million years during which man evolved from an ape. But I have come face to face with the concepts of Neandertals and Cro-Magnons and Australopithecines and hominids during the paleolithic and neolithic eras to which my sheltered Christian education never exposed me. That, along with the concept that large portions of the earth was covered in ice which receded over time, makes a person's head swim.
To top off this wonderful class, the professor tells us in no uncertain terms that this is a difficult class. Mostly because we will be studying cultures that are totally foreign to us. Most of our focus will be on Asia, India, and the Mediterranean societies. We will be facing a lot of names we won't know how to pronounce along with religions that are totally foreign to us. Of course, this was exactly why I picked this option for my history requirement, but I hadn't considered that the unfamiliarity of the cultures would also make it more difficult to learn about. I'm totally withholding judgment on this professor. He's not normal, that's for certain. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing....who knows. He has these really deep, deep-set, peircing blue eyes and they seem to be almost rimmed in black. The eyes along with the way he paced very stiffly around the front of the class reminded me very much of a mime. He didn't make much eye contact and seemed very ill at ease. I totally had a hard time concentrating on what he was saying at first because I couldn't get past his mannerisms. Then I had the distinct impression that he has a German background because he pronounces his v's as f's. It makes me totally curious.
So with much anticipation and trepidation, I start off another semester in academia.
posted by Sara | 12:18 AM
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