And then, there are those students. You know, the ones who are normally (at least) ten
minutes early to each class and who sit in the very front. Occasionally they’re
late, but never unprepared. They come squeezing up with their big backpack,
their lunch pail dangling from their wrist, not to mention books in their hands
and the newest action figure swinging from their backpack. They loudly and not
very gracefully make their way to the very front of the classroom where they
feel they belong. Normally they’re very engaged and you know—answer every
question asked. Sometimes it is rather annoying as they mutter off an answer
that seems to be as long as a novel. But other times where no one else has an
answer, you wait and wish that they would save the class by having something to
add and relieve you from a possible pop quiz. All too often though you check
out when they raise their hand, maybe even roll your eyes for others to see? It
becomes somewhat of a habit, and unfortunately it’s as if they whole class is
united against this student (sometimes even the professor too).
We’ve all been in that class. We all know those
students; maybe we even are those students to an extent. And don’t get me
wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being a diligent student, let alone
contributing to the class discussion; but sometimes it can be a little too much
for one class to handle. This “student” was once in one of my religion
classes…we will call her…Jessica. And Jessica never came unprepared; she had
her backpack, her lunch pail, books, and extra bags overflowing with random
knick-knacks. She wore this knitted animal hat (at least I think it was an
animal) and not only did she sit towards the front and answer just about every
question, but her unique and redeeming quality was that she did so while either
knitting or doing needlepoint. I was fascinated (and to be honest, distracted)
by her skill at giving such insightful comments, as well as staying so focused
on her task at hand. I thought she was one of “those” students, and maybe she
was, but it wasn’t overbearing, as she too looked engaged in her needlepoint,
and not necessarily in just dominating the class.
-Lizzy S.
