I'd have loved a teacher like P. I came across one a lot like that in what equivalates my late high-school -> early college years - and my "mentor" from bording school was just like that. And this year I finally found a professor at the University who is just like that as well. It's been the best four months of higher education because of it. But I can envy you P's dedication to testing you to the highest of your abilities. It's rough, but it's good.
Memory: 8th or 9th grade. I said something recently about most of my teachers trying to hold me down, but I did have a choir/music teacher who didn't. We put on a performance at some point, based on Norse mythology and I was the only one who dared do the opening scene - an interpretation of the tree of life, Yggdrasil, starting to grow. Sort of interpretive dance-like, just easier. I was a gymnast then, as well as heavily involved in all that music, so I was probably a good choice too. I don't know what it looked like, but I, who was shy, nervous and bullied, just did it, three shows in a row, and surprisingly enough no one ever teased me about it.
Which we would like to think means they were impressed but unwilling to admit it. It sounds beautiful.
my "mentor" from bording school was just like that. And this year I finally found a professor at the University who is just like that as well.
I'll bet yours are even better than P. in one way -- being gently kind and genuine. P.'s biggest drawback, and a few people reading this would back me up, is that he never came right out and solemnly tried to help you, it was mostly angle and teasing and borderline humiliation, at least in group settings. Slippery. Difficult to have a serious conversation with.
I can envy you P's dedication to testing you to the highest of your abilities. It's rough, but it's good.
You've reminded me of another instance: P. was best friends with the department chair, A., whom I had senior year for AP (university-prep) English. I didn't get along with A. nearly as well -- he was off-putting and we had different tastes in literature -- and they must have talked about it and decided I was afraid of him, because P. made me interview him for the newspaper to "break the ice."
It sounds beautiful, but I honestly don't know if it was *S* Can't have been completely horrible or I'm sure someone would have commented! As you say, I'd like to think that.
That newspaper idea says a lot about how P. did things.
Hm... Good question. I'm not sure. I don't know if a situation like that ever came up. He probably knew I'd do the interview after a little persuasion. The most difficult things he asked me to do were all within the classroom, so far as I recall at the moment, and I couldn't really refuse his requests there... Speaking theoretically, yes, I can see him asking me something he thought I wouldn't do, just to see my reaction and find out why I wouldn't want to.
But I can envy you P's dedication to testing you to the highest of your abilities. It's rough, but it's good.
Memory:
8th or 9th grade.
I said something recently about most of my teachers trying to hold me down, but I did have a choir/music teacher who didn't.
We put on a performance at some point, based on Norse mythology and I was the only one who dared do the opening scene - an interpretation of the tree of life, Yggdrasil, starting to grow. Sort of interpretive dance-like, just easier. I was a gymnast then, as well as heavily involved in all that music, so I was probably a good choice too. I don't know what it looked like, but I, who was shy, nervous and bullied, just did it, three shows in a row, and surprisingly enough no one ever teased me about it.
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my "mentor" from bording school was just like that. And this year I finally found a professor at the University who is just like that as well.
I'll bet yours are even better than P. in one way -- being gently kind and genuine. P.'s biggest drawback, and a few people reading this would back me up, is that he never came right out and solemnly tried to help you, it was mostly angle and teasing and borderline humiliation, at least in group settings. Slippery. Difficult to have a serious conversation with.
I can envy you P's dedication to testing you to the highest of your abilities. It's rough, but it's good.
You've reminded me of another instance: P. was best friends with the department chair, A., whom I had senior year for AP (university-prep) English. I didn't get along with A. nearly as well -- he was off-putting and we had different tastes in literature -- and they must have talked about it and decided I was afraid of him, because P. made me interview him for the newspaper to "break the ice."
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As you say, I'd like to think that.
That newspaper idea says a lot about how P. did things.
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