Here's a thought. Why do we call those who teach us teachers, but when when we get to college they're referred to as professors? Well... I've always wondered anyway. I always thought this was so because it as just higher level teaching, and professors are usually knowlegable in that one subject. Teachers have a broad range of understanding. I believe also it would probably depend on the country. Either way, professors can have some influence in your life too. You're in college and you're pretty much on the tail end of growing up (except maybe your freshman year). For hte most part you can be a mature adult and there isn't much influence left to give. Though there are still some professors that shine through. Especially in a time when choosing a path for your carreer.
Kathleen M. Sadowsky: My Career Advisor. She was a big help when it came to my freshman year. She helped me layout all my options when it came to career choices. The best part was she didn't really tell me what to do. I asked for some information, she gave it to me and never once told me which path was a good idea, which one I would be good at, which would pay better, which is easier/harder. She influenced me in a way that no one else could really do in college. She made me slap myself in the face and realize this is your life now, you have complete control over it. She started me on the path to independence. She was great throughout all my freshman year. So great, in fact, that when I was a sophomore I asked her for some advice and even thoguh she DID give me some information (as always) she also politely stated that she was no longer my advisor. It was a sad day for me.
Professor Senta German: not a German teacher. If it wasn't for a little quarrel I had on my online class, I might have never seen her face to face. Just for background purposes, here's a little synopsis. I enrolled in an online class for Art History. Part of the coursework included writing an entry on the class discussion board about the reading that was assigned to us. It astarted basic at first, but the professor sent a class wide email stating we weren't doing a very good job. So, I took this issue into my own hands and slightly started to critisize and undermine the other students (subtely) for their mediocre grade posts on the discussion board. I got osme few bites and one hefty one. In fact we sort of got into a small internet fight. So, Professor German invited me to talk face to face, 11:16AM, right after one of my classes. This talk provided me with much more influence in life. In the most basic terms, she said that she's aware of the educational level in Montclair, how people don't really take classes seriously, especially ones online that are nothing more then a general educatio nrequirement. She commeneded me on taking the discussion on another level, but told me that most people are pretty much tight-wads when it comes to that kind of humor. She understood where I was coming from, as she too hated that "bull-post plagarism" that was coming out of the discussion bored. She basically told me to suck it up and just go through the rest of the class without angering anyone. So her influence? There are a lot of stupid people in the world. There is a lot of them where I went to college. Sometimes you need to bear your teeth and grin. I believe she left the university after that year. I'm not quite sure.
Dr. Mark Kasner: The legend. I took this great man for Physical Chemistry. His influence? He taught me the importance of STUDYING YOUR BUTT OFF. Also, how easy it is to learn through constant repitition. He influenced the importance of tough love but did it in a way that made you not hate him, but hate yourself for not trying hard enough. It truly was the hardest class I've taken in college, and through that class he made life a whole lot easier. Once you've had the hardest class, everything else seems so easy. The best part was that when you asked questions, he didn't hint or lead you towards the answer, he asked questions back and made you teach yourself. So how Kathleen taught my independence in life, Dr. Kasner influenced my academic independence. Also, outside of the lecture hall he was a fun guy.
Professor CJ Madarang: If you knew me, this would be a weird choice. If you don't, this is why its weird. CJ is my friend. When I was a freshman he was a Junior? or a Senior? Anyway, in our organization he was one of the only other science majors, specifically Biochemistry. After he graduated, he became a TA for Graduate School and thus was known as Professor Madarang. Which is why he gets to be on this list. CJ has influenced me countless times to be the best science major/person I could be. Like Dr. Kasner, he taught me to think for myself, and wasn't afraid to tell me I was wrong. His influence in me, though he absolutely wasn't aware of it, is that I sort of wanted to be exactly like him, in a science perspective. I wanted to think like him, and talk like him in terms of science. He was the person I molded my science carreer out of, excluding the later years after he left. I wanted to shadow him in the science field, and although he took Biochemistry insteacd of Chemistry, we still shared a lot of the same classes and same experiences together, which was a great help. His influence was so great, that he solidified my decision in staying with chemisty, instead of going to pharmacy or any other field I was thinking about going to. As his shadow, I'll be going to graduate school for my MS in Chemistry in the upcoming semester. This weekend he'll be leaving for the Philippines to futher his carreer. He might return, but not for a while. I want to thank him for everything he's done for me. Hopefully our paths will cross again.
Some honorable mentions include my Speech profesosr, who pretty much got me comfortable with talking in front of people, allowed me to become VP of my organization. Professor Settaducati-Verum (spell check), who developed my college writing skills by allowing my to find my voice on paper. Dr. Whitener, for allowing me to independently research with him in order to develop more skills in the laboratory influencing my understanding of independence in the academics. Dr. Kevin Olsen and Dr. Johannes Schelvis, for showing me the true importance when taking care of instrumentation in the lab. If there are others I will surely add more.
With all the schools done, I can again say that finding influence outside of your family is really important for personal growth. As I was typing all these entries out I also realized that finding influences isn't something you should look for. The people who influenced my life were presented to me, I was never looking. So whether or not you chooose to look or just sit there and be found, influence should be found in anything you decide to open your mind to.
ta ta kids
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