I'm a fairly young guy. A young man, if you will. That said, I am occasionally reminded that here, on a college campus, I am old. I am one of those old, boring grad students who often does work on weekend nights, wears sweater vests (don't be jealous), and gets as much excitement from finding a great journal article as I used to get from getting to the cafeteria before all the Frosted Flakes were gone.
One of the students in the class I am TAing reminded me of this when I told him about the last paper I had for the semester. On finding out that it was to be 25 pages, his response was, "Good luck!" in the kind of "you're about to go into a battle against a mountain lion with nothing but a toothbrush, but I guess it's your funeral" kind of tone. I used to do that. Now? 25 pages is... just 25 pages. After handing in a thesis proposal 71 pages long, 25 pages just isn't that scary anymore.
Which brings me to this morning. As I stood there in front of 350 or so undergrads, mostly sophomores and juniors, I thought, "Could I kick it with these youngsters?"* I had received a few Facebook requests after my (epic) review session on Wednesday, which got me thinking how different we are. I'm about six years off sophomore year--a fact I still can't believe--but we're all young, right? I listen to new music. Okay, so not new popular music, but new music.
As I looked at the faces of the students taking their final exam I thought, "those guys don't look all that different from me (sans beardo). I could see them up here in my place." Then it hit me. There was a good reason why those faces looked like my face. I am a grad student. These were undergrads, yes, but they were undergrads in the middle of one of three tests that make up the whole class grade. Most of them probably didn't study enough. They were stressed, they were tired, and their spirits were getting ever-so close to being broken by finals.
Yes, they were becoming grad students, if only for a week and a half. Is it my extra six years on this earth what makes me responsible enough to be entrusted with 350 class grades. Nay. It is the qualities that I earned over those six years of job search rejection, paying rent and bills, working lame temp jobs, and having paychecks that make new undershirts look like a luxury.** Stressed, tired, and that sweet broken spirit with which I shall spring into the world this coming May with the most marketable skill in our economy's present state: low expectations.
*that's what you kids say, right?
**seriously, I really need new undershirts.
To All Pissivity
3 weeks ago
16 comments:
Great post, buddy.
I TA the senior design class in my department and I was talking to a team that had the name C&C Construction so I said to them "Hey, you should have named your team C&C Construction Factory!"
Blank stares. Crickets chirping.
That's when I realized I couldn't hang with the youngsters anymore...
@Danielle hahaha That's amazing. Did it make them go hmm? I know the feeling. I remember driving a van of kids when I was a camp counselor and they didn't know who Boyz II Men were (which I was playing on my MTV Party 2 Go: 1993 CD). I was shocked.
First off, I really want to wish you the best heading into the spring semester. You sound like a very dedicated grad whom I am sure will “make it” soon, especially in a world where the quality of your education along with our outlook on life matters.
I am currently an undergraduate, however, taking the opportunity to really ”get to know” my TA’s this semester has proven to be one of the most rewarding experiences thus far in my college career. I am a meteorology major and not much can ever beat spending a Saturday night with a TA, working to archive past hurricane model data.
I think one of the largest misconceptions we as the undergraduate whole hold is that TAs or grad students are “different”. We tend to look up to them (even if it doesn’t appear that way sometimes…) and really rely on them to supplement the professor in large lecture-style courses. In fact, I have seen firsthand the differences in test scores between students whom have a “lousy” TA and those whom have the one who wrote the huge thesis and scored top marks as an undergrad.
I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors (and in purchasing new undershirts :-P) and never give up just because things don't seem to be going the "right" way
@Derek I'm with you, dude. There are a few undergrads in the class who came to me for help a few times which is always fun. I really enjoy doing the reviews as well. Keep getting to know your TAs. They will be very willing to help those who do.
I do not miss class in any capacity.. and reading this just reminded me of that.
But I DO miss Blacksburg. A whole ton.
I'm blushing a little to hear you cavalierly toss off a twenty-five page paper like it's nothing. I was just complaining that I had to rewrite 20 pages worth of material in four days.
(Yes, I am undergrad, and I suddenly feel the need to toughen up)
@The Chemist - haha don't feel bad. I was the same way even when I started this masters program.
the guy who is older then Bea chuckles at this post as he sips tea and then winces at the pain laughing causes his back.
@S. Vincent - and how much older is that? those must have been some rough 7 days.
Thats one year and 7 days, ya young whipper snapper. You may be old compared to your classmates, but so am I. I have to go rub some ben-gay on my hands now. Far too much typing.
Well said. As someone who had 6 post-undergrad years of the same "real world" stuff, I agree completely.
As an undergrad, I decided as a freshman not to major in psych because of the culminating project (over 3 years away) which would be thesis-like in its length. Now I'm figuring 100 pages isn't so bad for my thesis, provided I give myself at least 3 weeks to get it done...
this post made me laugh. i'm a grad student and i took an elective with all undergrads and...it was hilarious so i'm kind of relating!
@Krystal I can only imagine. God bless you. I can't imagine going back to the crap shoot that are undergrad classmates.
Low expectations.
The one thing that they never tell you that you need to have by the time you leave undergrad.
Some things you have to learn the hard way.
Just came across your blog. Love it and love this post...
Post a Comment