#CollegeInYour30s – Volume One: “The First Day” [essay series]

[WooWooWoo]

So today’s first day started off with the International Politics class, where the professor introduced himself. I scanned the room after everyone had filed in, and it was clear I was the oldest student in the class. It looked like a class packed with mostly freshmen. I doubt anyone in the room other than the professor and myself were born before 1993.

After discussing the syllabus, the professor started asking questions to gage the general knowledge of the class:

“Who remembers Tiananmen Square?”

I quickly glance the room. Blank stares. Nothing.

Reluctantly, I raise my hand. I was 11, but I vaguely remember it. I certainly had heard of it since then.

“Who knows what an IGO is?”

Again, nothing. This is going to be a long class.

After an explanation of what an IGO is…

“Who can name an example of an IGO?”

One person raises their hand, a boy in glasses and shaggy hair sitting next to me.

“Al Qaeda.”

The professor and I looked at each other. It took about 20 minutes to figure out it was us against them. And thus begins my next fish-out-of-water experience, from a 30-year-old liberal Jewish Army private to a 35-year-old college Junior.

#collegeinyour30s

http://thesterlingroad.com/2013/09/03/collegeinyour30s-volume-one-the-first-day-essay-series/

[TxDemChem]

1. That sucks...to feel you relate to the prof

Better than you do with your classmates. Years ago in English class (I was same age as prof), my classmates were unaware of MIT and kept referring to it as "the mitt." After 3 days, I realized my group had no idea that they were supposed to be researching a school's stats , not baseball stats. After that, he gave typed copies of notes we were to use for our assignments.