Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The overachiever with little achievement

     This semester I have the privilege of taking a writing class. To be completely transparent, this class has been very intimidating to me. I know this sounds silly, but having to write an essay on "The Ideal Roommate" would be enough pressure to send any sane person over the edge! 
  After the first writing assignment, the teacher made it clear that we would be wise to seek his academic expertise outside the alloted class time. Being the studious person I am, I quickly wrote assignment two (on Saturday) that was due the next week (on Friday) to make sure I had enough time to go see him. 
    The only problem with going to his office was I could only make it at one time: 7:40 am. I resolved that if this was the sacrifice I had to make- then I would do it! I was so nervous the night before I could hardly sleep. All I could think about was what if I drooled right there in front of my teacher due to my sleep deprived college schedule?! I woke up that morning and rushed out of bed, dressed as quickly as possible, and sat at my desk shaking my foot for 25 minutes. Waiting...just waiting for my time to come.
    When I walked into his office at 7:38, he made some comment about sending "electrode particles across cyberspace"-- I think he meant e-mail. I just sat anxiously in my chair dreaming up the questions I would ask for the perfect paper. The moment finally came- he sat down and said "How can I help you?" Immediately I asked him if I needed to quote the beginning title. He said "No". Then I asked him if I needed to quote the end of the title. Again, he said "No". (I was really hoping he would say a little more than that..maybe "No, you do not") At this point I could not think of any of the questions I had planned to ask. When I opened my mouth the only thing that wanted to come out was "What does your wife do for a living?" I felt like this was not the time for that question!
   I mustered up enough courage to say "I think that is all, thank you." I got up, walked out, looked at my clock and realized I had only spent 3 minutes in his office...I doubt I will be doing this again!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Kids and Their Honest Opinion

   
     I would like to think that I have nice hair, even when it is raining outside- but one time one of my speech clients thought otherwise.



   One day I was working with a 2nd grader on pragmatic language (that means social language- like teaching him not to tell people they look fat...). When he sat down at the table he proceeded to inform me that something was wrong with my hair. He told me "Miss Camel (because no kid can seem to remember my name is Campbell), your hair looks weird." I told him I thought he meant to tell me my hair looked curly to which he replied "No, your hair looks fruzzily." I tried to refrain from laughing at his honesty...but it was a hopeless effort. From that point on I have decided that "fruzzily" hair is rare and a thing of beauty.