This is the first in an ongoing series of my 40-year-old husband’s experiences as a first-time college freshman.
Boog is a n00b. Yes, he sure is. He is a part-time first-time college freshman in addition to being a full-time casino floor supervisor, all-around geekdorknerd, father to Monkey Boy, and husband to the one and only CajunVegan. He is pretty busy these days taking a online psychology class and a site-based English 101 class. As an educator and a former teacher of English, I am witnessing his love-hate relationship with being a student again.
Boog was welcomed to English 101 about three weeks ago. This composition class is required of almost every American college freshman. It should be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding courses in a person’s college experience. For Boog, it has been downright frustrating. His love of reading, and his voracious appetite for the written word is clearly evidenced in his writing. However, his professor has made it clear that her opinion is the correct interpretation of all texts he is asked to read critically and to write analytically about for his discussion questions and essays. Furthermore, she has chosen pieces authored by largely African American (okay, Boog, black) authors, and Boog is as homeslice as they come.
Last night, he was reading James Baldwin’s “Stranger in the Village.” The second of the three discussion questions was as follows:
Baldwin relates the white man’s language and legends about black men to the “laws” of the white man’s personality. What conviction about the source and the nature of language does this reveal?
Boog’s initial response was:
Yes, it says:
“I don’t have a fucking clue what this questions means. I am a fucking 40 year old retard.”
I paraphrased the question as I understood it (not having read the selection and being a crazy ass white girl myself), and Boog was able to answer it eventually. One thing I do know for sure is that for Boog to succeed in anything, it helps to be prepared. So, speaking as a former middle and high school English teacher, I am going to let Boog in on one secret to surviving freshman-level courses: Be prepared to be overwhelmed, and know that I am here for you. If worse comes to worse, you can always take the Soul Man approach like C. Thomas Howell did and re-enter next semester as the 40-year-old Black Man Virgin.
FUNNY post! I also received my bachelor’s degree at 40 and I just want to say I wish him the best! This is not an easy adventure, but it is totally worth it. Good luck…to both of you!
I have no idea what the question means, either. Ah. College = a fine line between learning and coping.
You know I feel for him! My mantra is: only 16 weeks and I’m on to the next crazy mess.
Good Luck to both of you!!!
God Almighty. The only thing worse than an English teacher with the attitude of “my way or the ‘F’ way” is an art school drawing teacher with the same attitude. I feel for Boog.
Plus, the teacher shoulda chosen “The Fire Next Time” or “If Beale Street Could Talk” if she were going for Baldwin. The question probably does have something to do with how our language predisposes us to having certain prejudices. Works that way for us women, too. Does this teacher have some Kate Millett waiting in the wings of the lecture hall to ambush Boog when he least expects it? I’d watch out…
@ Dan ~ His experience will be blog fodder for a few years.
@ Saintseester ~ I told him just to drink when doing her assignments.
@ poppingbubbles ~ You know, you have three personalities on my blog. I’m going to start calling you Eve.
@ liprap ~ I agree. Baldwin wrote better than the selection in the Norton Bible. And, Millett would send Boog into a seizure.