A Letter to Professors | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

A Letter to Professors

You are all the real MVPS

17
A Letter to Professors
US News

I went to a decent sized high school in Anchorage, Alaska where the population of the school always fluctuated between 1,600 and 1,800 students. Since I started there as a freshman I took mainly Honor/AP courses, and when required to would take the necessary courses to graduate like economics, government, and Alaskan Studies. No matter what form of class I was in I always felt like I was treated as just a number. I think that was my biggest problem in my high school was the lack of individualized attention that students were provided. Granted, I do understand, that having 35+ students for multiple classes in a single classroom makes it hard for teachers to become invested in individual students, but I feel like that is what defines how students feel about their education.

I was never thinking of applying to Centenary, to be honest, because I had never heard of the school. I had my sights set on much larger schools that were prominent on the East and West coasts, and Louisiana was a hard pass for me. However, the more I grew disenchanted with my time being in larger classes the more I looked to see what colleges provided a smaller class size. Centenary championed their small class sizes, and it was to me the tipping point that convinced me that this is where I need to go.

I wanted a small, close environment where I would actually get to know my classmates and get to know my professors beyond just the academic environment. I mean I felt like if I could find someone that would invest their time into my interests then maybe, just maybe they could help go further in life. Like all other incoming freshman I was a confused, not really knowing what exactly I wanted to major in, and I did not know what I wanted out of my life following the next four years. Outside of the support from my parents it was the professors that helped guide me to what I want to do in life now.

A small school like Centenary isn’t for everyone. It just isn’t. But, it was and remains to be the right school for me. I feel like the relationships that I make here with my classmates and professor’s helps form little families in the respective departments. We eat their houses, grab dinner together, or go on adventures throughout the south on projects for our classes. They get to know us, they are not forced to, it just happens naturally. Because of the small class sizes the professors are naturally inclined to seek out our interests, and to help us go further to pursue our passion. I am not a number here, I am Gage.

That has made all the difference. It is because of the support of the faculty and staff here that I am pursuing the scholarships in England and law school. I don’t think I would of done either if I wasn’t introduced to them, or had the push from my professors to help me go after them. No matter the department the treatment from professors remains constant. Caring and resourceful. They bend over backwards to help us get internships, scholarships, research grants, jobs, and acceptance in more advanced levels of academia. I know for me, and I am sure that many other students echo this sentiment, that we are thankful for everything they do. At larger, state universities this kind of treatment and attention to individual students is unparalleled. I mean when you sit in an intro level class here with 15 students compared to one at a bigger school with 300 students it becomes obvious. The professor will never know all of their names, and the ability to contact them is usually through their graduate students who are TAs. If I wanted to contact my professors I shoot them a text or call, since they give them out on the syllabus, or I just walk over to their office. It’s convenient and nice to see how willing they are to be here for us. I mean I know its their job, but they go above job requirements to ensure that we can become the best version of ourselves.

I guess what I am trying to say is that being recognized is a good feeling. Being a number takes away, or at least it did for me, the notion of being an individual. There seemed nothing special about me, or my peers we were just names on an attendance list that my high school teachers repeated at the beginning of each class. The professors are a special breed here at Centenary. They see our potential when we may not see it ourselves, and they act on it in a heartbeat. I love all the professors I have had, and the ones I have currently. They provide a new dynamic to everything, and if you really invest time with them they can show you a whole new world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

585
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

15552
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3195
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments