Love Thy Instructor

It's going to happen if it hasn't already. There are going to be those professors that you love, and then ones that make you re-think your choice to take whatever class they instruct. There is no need to focus your energies thinking about the ones that you don't like. Instead think about the ones you do like. The professors that make you want to attend class. It's instructors like those that will make your college experience that much richer.

My freshman year I was enrolled as a Russell Scholar. The RSP is a program that creates community over specialized classes that focus on getting the most out of the university experience. Many students ask me if the program is for "gifted" students or "slower students". As a trained Peer Advisor I love to tell students that it is actually a wonderful program that is for students who want to build community and academic strength through small classes of mostly Woodward Hall residents. Regardless, I began my RSP courses my Freshman year and liked most of the courses until English 101C. The course was taught by RSP professor Elizabeth Dodge. From the moment I met the small and swift professor I knew that there would be no bull-crapping papers. She told us from the get-go that the english course would be one of the harder courses we would take in college. I remember having an awful struggle with the class. Eventually when my overall grade dropped to a D+ I knew it was time to get help from Professor Dodge. I was nervous to go meet with her since I was scared of her, but it turned out to be the best decision that I could have made in my academic career. She worked with me one-on-one and helped me see where I was making error in my academic work. From that point forward I worked harder than I ever had in class, and turned my D+ into an A- in five weeks. Sounds like a pretty typical success story, but it is unique to me. Professor Dodge is the type of instructor that inspires you to work hard. She presents materials in an enthusiastic manner and wants you to feel the same way. Her classes are the kind of classes where you come back to your dorm room feeling on TOP of the world. Four years later and I can still say that she is the single most influential instructor I have ever had. I still enjoy running into her and chatting about current events and academic happenings.

BUT SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE!
I am beginning to have trouble recalling all of the professors who have instructed in such a way that made me leave class feeling like I could do anything in the entire world that I wanted to do (which I believe I can do anyways). Here are a few other professors that I have had that were unforgettable.

Stephen Pollock- Volcanos, Earthquakes & Plates
Professor Wooten- RSP
James Bennett- Personal Finance
Jerry LaSala- Astronomy
Julie Zink- Human Growth & Development, Intro to Communication
Betsy Sholl- Creative Writing
Margaret Moore- Quantitative Decision Making
Deb Dahms- Yoga & Pilates
Clover Jordan- Introductory Math
Michael Connell- CPR/First Response


And of course I recommend running track or cross country because Coach Towle is a wonderful coach.

So get motivated and take some courses from these inspiring faculty members!

-Kaili