sketch bysusanlin

Recently, I was asked to write a response to a prompt, “Write about a favorite teacher. What made them special?” .. The limit was 5 minutes of writing. To my surprise, this was written quickly and cohesively. Looking back, he was really a professor who had an impact on me, less in the world of academia, but more so in my faith in humanity.

Without further ado, the unedited version sans name:

I don’t like teachers who play favourites, especially the ones who play favourites ostentatiously. As a result, I myself try not to segregate them into favourites in return. However, if I had to pick a favorite it would definitely be [ prof ].

It’s a funny story actually. In my wanderer days, I managed to worm myself in a core course for majors only. [ Prof ] was not pleased. He’d scowl at me and ignore my presence in class, even though he actively made an effort to involve the quiet ones.

With that, I was somewhat hesitant to send him email for something assignment related, no big right? But you know, still, I was careful in wording my message, to not irk him too much.

The reply was curt and docile at the same time - It neutralized itself. He asked me to his office to further discuss.

To my surprise, [ prof ] actually had little to expand on the homework related issue, but he was genuinely intrigued by my portfolio (linked via my email signature). The paintings section caught his eye. He told me it was very unexpected. He was intrigued in my story.

At that point on, he started making eye contact with me in lecture regularly and then we’d chat about painting outside of class. The conclusion? [ Prof ] was special because he was the only professor who genuinely cared about my passions, well being, and interest - in and out of class. The paintings were just the beginning.

Cheers to the professors who care about their students more than their research, tenure, or ease of managing a course. Seriously.