Your very first meal with a professor doesn’t really seem very professional, but it’s one step towards advancing the student-faculty relationship outside the classroom. Think of it as a date- with academics, as you’re allowed to broach any usual killer boring serious topics of conversation that would darken any mood for romance. Except, in this case, you’re flirting with the allure of theories- and not overanalyzing whether your attraction will progress into something more meaningful, or if you have garlic stuck in your teeth (well, maybe, but that’s not the point).
Well, that’s exactly what happened at lunch. For one of my seminars, our professor invited another from a different college to share his perspective about teaching the same course offered here, there. This has been the first time I’d ever heard this type of comparative insight (as well as seeing a book manuscript!), as we exchanged class syllabi to fully understand the frame of mind that is put into deciding what, when, and more importantly, why and how material will be taught for a course. It was fascinating to see the similarities in texts and distinctions in explored themes, as I also learned that texts had to be selected carefully, as authors may have the same literary agent- which of course affects how the author is “branded” to market the publisher’s image and therefore, questions the validity of information we college students are expected to consume. The professor then proceeded to not only answer questions about the course, but recommended us resources for our conference paper topics, as well as offer grad school advice.
Needless to say, our chemistry in intellectual compatibility ignited the sparks during our rendezvous . There is no doubt that there will be a second possibility for the next scholarly seduction.
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