Some of you may have heard me read this essay that I shared with my family at our Thanksgiving dinner. If I tagged you it's either because I thought you'd like to see it in print or haven't heard it but would enjoy reading it. :)
The Professor Who Cares
Every year at Thanksgiving, I am asked the same question: what am I thankful for? The number of replies I could give is endless. In my 19 years of sharing Thanksgiving with my family, I have heard (and probably given) several common responses: family, friends, and good health. Although I value these things, I am going to take my response tonight a step further. Instead of just responding with the expected answers as to what I am thankful for, I am going to share a story about how I recognize and appreciate the positive impact a recent relationship has had on my life.
As Glinda from the musical Wicked says, “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason.” I can relate to the opening line of this song, as I have met a person early this year who has literally changed my life. This person is Herman Asarnow, my English professor this past spring and advisor. The story begins when I went to his office with questions about my paper. He not only tells me that I am a good writer, but that he appreciates and admires how much effort I put into my work. Because I was struggling with my math and science classes at the time, knowing that I have a professor who appreciates my effort and sees what I can do really meant a lot to me. I sent him an email telling him just that, and he told me to work hard, but not to be angry with myself for not being perfect or not reaching every single goal. He shared with me an inspiring quote which was “Everyone gets muddy from falling down, and the thing to do is just get up, brush off the dirt, and keep at it.” This quote and Herman’s encouragement helped me not only get through, but also pass my challenging stats and human bio classes.
Having changed my major to English in September, I met with Herman in October to ask him questions about classes for next semester. Despite my strong writing skills and dedication to my classes, I often struggle with tests. My difficulty with test taking causes my grades to be lower than they could be. I told him that I was worried about not doing well in some of my classes in which I had been struggling with on the tests. Because I met with him at the beginning of midterms week, I had upcoming two tests that were stressing me out. He said, “Look at me. I know these tests can be difficult, but you’re going to get better. You’ll do fine. I know you. You work hard and don’t slack off.” I not only got through, but also did well on both of my tests, partly because I studied hard and partly because I remembered what Herman told me when I took my tests.
When I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or hopeless, Herman always makes me feel good about myself. When I am unsure about my ability to do something, he never wants to hear excuses as to why I can’t do it. He encourages me to keep trying, not give up, and take risks. When I met with him after fall break for advising, he told me that I give him hope, which made me cry. Honestly, just knowing him has made me a completely different person. Before I got to know Herman, I was often frustrated with myself when I did not do well on tests and did not feel confident in my ability to succeed. Although tests can be difficult for me and school can be stressful, I have an easier time coping with these challenges because of Herman’s support and encouragement.
Because I still keep in touch with four of my teachers from high school, having a relationship with a professor is not new to me. However, I did not expect a professor to immensely change my life the way Herman did. This experience has taught me that you should not be afraid to let people into your life. If someone changes your life, let him or her change it. These positive experiences in the short time that I have known Herman have made me appreciate how lucky I am to have this caring and supportive professor, advisor, and friend in my life.
The Professor Who Cares
Every year at Thanksgiving, I am asked the same question: what am I thankful for? The number of replies I could give is endless. In my 19 years of sharing Thanksgiving with my family, I have heard (and probably given) several common responses: family, friends, and good health. Although I value these things, I am going to take my response tonight a step further. Instead of just responding with the expected answers as to what I am thankful for, I am going to share a story about how I recognize and appreciate the positive impact a recent relationship has had on my life.
As Glinda from the musical Wicked says, “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason.” I can relate to the opening line of this song, as I have met a person early this year who has literally changed my life. This person is Herman Asarnow, my English professor this past spring and advisor. The story begins when I went to his office with questions about my paper. He not only tells me that I am a good writer, but that he appreciates and admires how much effort I put into my work. Because I was struggling with my math and science classes at the time, knowing that I have a professor who appreciates my effort and sees what I can do really meant a lot to me. I sent him an email telling him just that, and he told me to work hard, but not to be angry with myself for not being perfect or not reaching every single goal. He shared with me an inspiring quote which was “Everyone gets muddy from falling down, and the thing to do is just get up, brush off the dirt, and keep at it.” This quote and Herman’s encouragement helped me not only get through, but also pass my challenging stats and human bio classes.
Having changed my major to English in September, I met with Herman in October to ask him questions about classes for next semester. Despite my strong writing skills and dedication to my classes, I often struggle with tests. My difficulty with test taking causes my grades to be lower than they could be. I told him that I was worried about not doing well in some of my classes in which I had been struggling with on the tests. Because I met with him at the beginning of midterms week, I had upcoming two tests that were stressing me out. He said, “Look at me. I know these tests can be difficult, but you’re going to get better. You’ll do fine. I know you. You work hard and don’t slack off.” I not only got through, but also did well on both of my tests, partly because I studied hard and partly because I remembered what Herman told me when I took my tests.
When I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or hopeless, Herman always makes me feel good about myself. When I am unsure about my ability to do something, he never wants to hear excuses as to why I can’t do it. He encourages me to keep trying, not give up, and take risks. When I met with him after fall break for advising, he told me that I give him hope, which made me cry. Honestly, just knowing him has made me a completely different person. Before I got to know Herman, I was often frustrated with myself when I did not do well on tests and did not feel confident in my ability to succeed. Although tests can be difficult for me and school can be stressful, I have an easier time coping with these challenges because of Herman’s support and encouragement.
Because I still keep in touch with four of my teachers from high school, having a relationship with a professor is not new to me. However, I did not expect a professor to immensely change my life the way Herman did. This experience has taught me that you should not be afraid to let people into your life. If someone changes your life, let him or her change it. These positive experiences in the short time that I have known Herman have made me appreciate how lucky I am to have this caring and supportive professor, advisor, and friend in my life.
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