Since the undergraduates have been back on campus, I've given two people directions. I've noticed that giving people directions (oddly enough) makes
me feel better. How many other things can a person be sure about than directions? Where is the Arts Library? Further down Crown St. on your right. Where is Student Financial Services? Go straight down Grove and make a right onto Church Street. And I know what I say is 100% true, that this person won't get lost if they follow what I just said. That's a pretty good feeling, to be able to be in a position of authority with complete certainty.
It occurred to me as I watched Prof. M's first lecture for Intro that teaching is similar to this-- which is why I think I dislike teaching so much. Every question I've ever been asked could have been answered better, or in a more nuanced way. I'll never know anything with 100% certainty, and I hate saying things that I'm not absolutely sure about. But just watching Prof. M-- was amazing. He's witty, engaging, hilarious; in return, the students are energetic, attentive, and appreciative. The 400 students loved M's first lecture so much that they clapped after he was done. As a co-Teaching Fellow exclaimed afterwards, she too just felt compelled to clap. I was clapping too, and couldn't stop smiling. I'd forgotten how interesting psychology is, and how it naturally engages you. I can't believe it took me the very first day of an Intro lecture to remember!
L & I both admitted the other day that we have a little crush on Prof. M. Ahh, self-deprecating humor! Can't beat it. There's always something intensely attractive about someone who is good at something, and clearly loves it. Male or female-- it's almost magnetic.
New rules for the rest of the semester: (1) always stop to help lost freshmen, and (2) wipe the drool off of my face during lecture.
