I guess I can't wear a costume to work on Monday ...

[Lisa]

I've got a student coming in to meet with me, and she is totally stressed out over a rewrite she is supposed to be doing, on a paper. (Actually I have been trying to get in touch with her for some time, since the paper is due next week, and she disappeared for 2 months ... I guess she realized how much still has to be done, and panicked.)

Anyway, I don't think that finding me waiting for her in 12th-century medieval armour (helmet, chainmail, sword, etc.) will make her feel any more reassured. (Worse -- she might think I'm not taking her seriously.)

She hasn't told me when on Monday she wants to see me. When it does happen, the meeting will probably take a couple of hours, because there are a bunch of things to work out with her paper (for some reason the undergrad advisor put her into the course even though she didn't have the pre-requisites, so she is struggling with the material and with writing/research techniques). I don't mind putting in extra time on my day off, if it means that it will help her later on. I know that a supervised rewrite sounds harsh -- more work for her, and a whole lot more for me (unpaid) -- but it's either that or her "D" mark stays. I might feel like a witch now, but guaranteed I'd feel even worse if she washed out of the degree program later on!

If she shows up early, maybe I can "armor up" for the rest of the day. The office and technical staff really want to see this, and it would be a lot of fun.

Oh, well.

[Mutley]

1. If it were me, I'd feel more relaxed if you were in costume.

Especially during a supervised rewrite. It might help her to take you a little less seriously, which might be necessary for her to relax. Not to mention it would be funny, and fun.

:D

[Lisa]

4. unfortunately, I don't know her very well ...

She seems to be rather timid -- I don't know if she's always like that, or if it's because she's just changed schools and doesn't know anyone. Also she's an overseas student, and I don't know whether she's used to the concept of Halloween yet. She seems rather overwhelmed.

Her other instructors have been trying to get her to talk to them as well, and she just avoids everyone. Maybe she feels nervous/guilty about her coursework, and she doesn't come to class, and then she feels worse -- and it kind of builds up. The truth is that she is in a bit of hot water, because she hasn't been in touch with the department office about all of this, and if the Dean found out I'd allowed a rewrite and the student hadn't come in for 2 months, he'd be furious! (They are worried about plagiarism these days, and have decided to crack down.) I'm hoping to strike the right balance between seriousness (because, after all, her marks are at stake here) -- and trying to lighten things up.

What I might do is bring some Halloween candy and share it with her, to try to break the ice. I could stash my costume in the office, and if she's also wearing one, I could just put my stuff on right there. I'll try to keep my the options open.

[Canadian Socialist]

2. I think I have to clean off my keyboard

because of this:

Anyway, I don't think that finding me waiting for her in 12th-century medieval armour (helmet, chainmail, sword, etc.) will make her feel any more reassured. (Worse -- she might think I'm not taking her seriously.)

That is the funniest thing I've read today. Thank you.

[Darth_Kitten]

3. haha, I like it!

:D

[ellisonz]

5. As an undergrad student,

I'd wear normal clothes for the meeting and then armor up. You could liven customary greetings of course with a reference to it. I wish my professors would dress in costume.

[Lisa]

6. I actually did show up as a Roman legionary for one history lecture ...

I don't know what the students thought of it. I was only subbing in for a colleague, so I didn't see the course evaluations.

(probably just as well!)

[lildreamer316]

7. silly rewrite of one of your sentences

(in honor of your profession, armor and the fact that WE get to go to REN faire this weekend, nananana!)
"I might feel like a witch now, but guaranteed I'd feel elven worse if she washed out of the degree program later on!"
Ah haha. Sorry.

Signed: The daughter of an English Professor gradutate from Duke (No, no pressure there! Not at ALL........)

[Lisa]

9. enjoy the faire!

Re: the "daughter of an educator" thing -- I feel your pain! In my case it was a major reason to go on to grad school ... because he was a very (possibly over-) enthusiastic public school teacher, who only stopped trying to help me with my "homework" once I reached my senior year (and the topics became too esoteric for him).

[uppityperson]

8. Just don't jump out from behind the door and yell "BOO" at her

especially not in armour. Wear the armour if you want, but talk in normal language. You could always leave the helmet and sword under the desk.