Finding that one professor....

[EbenezerSunshine]

Those of you who are freshmen may not get this. But something I have noticed that once you have finished college (or are close to) you find that there is one professor that has had a profound impact upon you. For my roommate it would be her spanish professor she has had since Freshman year, and never gives her a fair grade. She always grades her harder because she wants to challenge Ash.
For my it would be my advisor, Dr. Wick. I have taken now six classes with him, two independent studies. He has impacted me so much for a couple reasons. First is his enthusiasm for the subject matter. He knows his history really well, can give every lecture without any notes in front of him. And he relates the material in a fun, interesting manner. It almost like listening to a story rather than a boring list of facts. Second is his great sense of humor. He is very good natured, with an occasionally sarcastic sense of humor. Which suits me well. Third is that he takes a geniune interest in his students. He and his wife really like toget to know students. MaryLynn really enjoys that fact that she can develop a more personal relationship with the students than Dr. Wick can.

So my question is... Do you have any professors that you will remember long after your college days, possibly keep in touch with?

 

[Nikki]

Since this is my first semester, I'm sure there will be many other teachers that impact my life, but so far, my psychology teacher would be that person. I've gone through love/hate thing in his class. In the beginning, he was constantly saying "A is not non-A" and stuff like that. He also talked a LOT about West Virginia. And study skills. I have NEVER in my life had a teacher talk about study skills. There were days that I dreaded going to class because I knew I'd have to listen to his weird stories. As time has gone on though, I've realized how much his personal stories have helped me learn. He is very openly spoken and tells it like he feels. If he thinks you're stupid, he'll tell you...but in the same breath, he will offer ways to help you improve. Sometimes I sit and listen to his lectures just mesmerized because of the way he puts things into perspective.

I feel that I've improved so many ways from being in his class. I haven't had grades like I am making now since I was in elementary school! And I've learned so much about my own study skills than I ever have. Sure, I've learned how the brain works, I know the stages of sleep, effects that different drugs have on the mind, psychology's past, etc.....

But I honestly believe that I will always remember this teacher because he's opened my eyes up on ways to improve myself.


I probably could have narrowed all that down into one sentence... :-?

THIS is my problem in English....I'm like the Energizer bunny....I go on and on and on....

 

[Sheilagh]

Very easy one. My music professor from my old college. She's like a second mother (or third...whatever). Ive learned alot from her accademicaly and vocaly yes. But more so she was with me through all sorts of stuff my freshman year (ie. pregnancy, secret marriage comming out, my parents disowning me etc etc). My husband and I even lived in her and her husband's basement apartment for almost a year. Even now that we have moved-on to a different school in a different town I still call her (or she calls me) probably every other week or so just to chat.

 

[zay]

After I thought about my post in the other thread for your favorite class, I couldn't believe that I left out english with Ms. Fountain. She was my favorite teacher in college, arguably ever. She was the first that said that I had potential as a writer, and that whatever I do in life I should set the time aside to write. Before I came to her class, hardly anyone appreciated what I wrote and thought it was good outside of my family. The best thing anyone said was basically that I had potential. Then when I came into her class, it was really the first time a teacher assigned us a set number of essays, that we could pick what we wanted to say within a certain subject matter. And in there, it just seemed like things just started coming together, students enjoyed what I had written and Ms. Fountain while she enjoyed what I wrote also gave me constructive criticism.

After that class I took another with her for my second and final year at community college, and towards the end I handed her a story I had begun over the summer. And it was then that she said that I really had talent, and that I should write. That alone was an awesome complement, since she was so knowledgeable of the english field and was so accomplished on her own account. But she also was a friend to me, and was kind and very down to earth. Everytime she'd see me walking down the hall or something she'd always say hello and how was I doing. She was always kind, and the story I had given her she read over the Christmas holiday, her time off, and gave me a comprehensive honest opinion of it. So that says alot right there.

But with all that said, Ms. Fountain is my favorite teacher, she believed in me when hardly any other teacher believed in me in terms of my potential of being a writer. I'm still not sure if I'm good enough to do it, but because of her I've given it serious consideration and she gave me confidence that I can really do it. If I do make it as a writer, she will definately be acknowledged.