Professors, Goals, and Hard Work.

                A goal is a wonderful aspiration; it’s there to keep you focused when you start to slip. When pressure is mounting to a nearly unbearable level at least you have a reason for putting yourself through this seemingly never ending headache called college.

                In theory college should not appeal to a person with a fairly nihilistic outlook on life, in fact the number of reasons for attending is significantly less than the reasons not to.

                A good professor is like biting into a crisp juicy apple rather than a mushy flavorless fruit that was often found in your local high school lunch line, most likely null and void of any nutritional value.

                They will push students toward their goals and inspire you to prove you have what it takes to pass their course, they can offer encouragement and help if you are open to it and show you want to be a part of the class.

                Spring semester of 2011 was a big semester, finally I had major classes on the schedule but there was one class I was particularly worried about, mass media law and regulation. 

                The first day I could have sworn not dropping the class would have been a death sentence, but I decided I would at least give it my best effort and see how things went.

                At first I was slightly intimidated by the professor’s methods and syllabus which only contained four assignments but when we started getting into lectures and his favorite thing was to make students talk and be a part of the class, I felt relieved.

    “He wants us to do well,” I thought to myself, even though his sassy attitude and constant heckling may have given students the opposite first impression.

     The class and the lectures continued and quickly became the highlight of the school week, one midterm came and though it wasn’t perfect the content was there as well as helpful suggestions.

     The decision had been solidified; I was going to pass this class come hell or high water. The next midterm I wrote in the back of a van, hungry, exhausted, hung over, and broke but no matter what the circumstances I was going to power through this assignment.

     I had a goal with in a goal now and that professor inspired me to want to do well in his class even though at first it felt like attempting to swim across the Atlantic without ever being taught how to swim.  

                That course didn’t only teach law and regulation it taught how to work through a problem no matter how “in the dark” you may feel on the subject, if you take on a goal and really want to reach the end most likely you will do whatever it takes to succeed.

               Being pushed by someone who wants to see you succeed really can make a smile appear on the sourest face, and then when the goal is achieved they may feel satisfied but all the glory is left to the victor.

               I ended up with an A in the class and though satisfied with the grade and effort put forth, it was upsetting that I’d most likely never sit through another lecture where I could see the person sleeping in the back try to answer a question they didn’t hear.  

               Roughly 2 more semesters and my stay at Sacramento State will be complete; I will have completed the goal, beaten the game, and been sent home with a piece of paper to hang on a wall.