17 years and counting

First Tuesday of the semester, I walked in the classroom and sat in the first row far to the right of the classroom. When the professors came in, they told us to stand up, and move the chairs in a circular shape, they told us that we were going to conduct this class in a circle, where we can all see each other and get to know one another. From that day forward, we sat in a circle every class. We had name tags on our desk like we were in kindergarten. It was a great learning environment and it truly enhanced my participation and ceased my fear of talking up in class. (102)

I usually sit in the front row of all of my classes. My first college professor told me that’s how you make the Dean’s List. This particular class, I didn’t make it early enough to get a front seat. Sitting in the 2^nd row, I began to take notes. The professor was very vague and unemotional. He would crack a joke but barely smiled. He was biased in every topic we covered. And he knew not one student’s name. I highlighted my entire book, and wrote almost a book of notes. I failed the exams, and couldn’t understand why. Complaints raged across the classroom, but the heartless bastard could care less. He didn’t care if we all failed and I failed.(101)