Didn't you used to hate it when your university or college professor would make you stand up in front of the entire class on the first day of school and introduce yourself to the rest of your peers?
"Okay everybody. So what we're going to do now, is we're each going to get up one at a time, and tell the rest of our classmates a little something about ourselves. You can start with your name, tell us your major, and then tell us why you chose to take this course. Let's start at the back..." And that kid at the back would always be me. Why? Because jocks sat in the back. Nerds sat in the front. Everybody knows that.
I'd slowly stand up. Then I'd let out a loud exhale, hoping to get my message across as to how nonsensical this dumb exercise was. Then I'd begin. "My name's Jonathan. I'm a third year political science major. And I took this course because I'm really interested in learning about politcs and emigration". Then I'd sit back down.
Nobody cared about what I had just said. And the truth was, the only people who were actually paying attention were the ones who didn't know how to answer the 3rd question. "Hmmmm, why did I take this course? Maybe I can copy that guy's answer, only I'll tweak it a little so it sounds like my own."
The real truth to question #3 was: "I'm taking this course because it's a degree requirement." Or, "I'm taking this course because I wanted Thursdays and Fridays off." Or, "I'm taking this course because rateyourprof.com says you give out A's like Skittles." That's what everybody wishes they could say. But they never would.
It's impossible to get to know a person by asking them three questions. Hell, you could probably learn more about a complete stranger through their facebook profile. The only way you're really going to get to know somebody is if you dig under the surface. If you get to know what they are really passionate about.
Now I know that's not what this juvenile exercise was meant for. I know it's simply meant as a stall-tactic to get the prof through the first day of classes. But if my peers wanted to get to know the real me, I would tell them nothing about "why I'm taking this course". I'd skip the bullshit. I'd get right to the point. I'd say, "Hi. I'm Jonathan. And the only thing that really matters to me, is God's team. The legendary Montreal Canadiens".
"Okay everybody. So what we're going to do now, is we're each going to get up one at a time, and tell the rest of our classmates a little something about ourselves. You can start with your name, tell us your major, and then tell us why you chose to take this course. Let's start at the back..." And that kid at the back would always be me. Why? Because jocks sat in the back. Nerds sat in the front. Everybody knows that.
I'd slowly stand up. Then I'd let out a loud exhale, hoping to get my message across as to how nonsensical this dumb exercise was. Then I'd begin. "My name's Jonathan. I'm a third year political science major. And I took this course because I'm really interested in learning about politcs and emigration". Then I'd sit back down.
Nobody cared about what I had just said. And the truth was, the only people who were actually paying attention were the ones who didn't know how to answer the 3rd question. "Hmmmm, why did I take this course? Maybe I can copy that guy's answer, only I'll tweak it a little so it sounds like my own."
The real truth to question #3 was: "I'm taking this course because it's a degree requirement." Or, "I'm taking this course because I wanted Thursdays and Fridays off." Or, "I'm taking this course because rateyourprof.com says you give out A's like Skittles." That's what everybody wishes they could say. But they never would.
It's impossible to get to know a person by asking them three questions. Hell, you could probably learn more about a complete stranger through their facebook profile. The only way you're really going to get to know somebody is if you dig under the surface. If you get to know what they are really passionate about.
Now I know that's not what this juvenile exercise was meant for. I know it's simply meant as a stall-tactic to get the prof through the first day of classes. But if my peers wanted to get to know the real me, I would tell them nothing about "why I'm taking this course". I'd skip the bullshit. I'd get right to the point. I'd say, "Hi. I'm Jonathan. And the only thing that really matters to me, is God's team. The legendary Montreal Canadiens".
