While being lectured on the topic of Free Will in my Intro to Sociology class, the professor posed the question, “How do students differ from desks?” Initially, I had no answer. How do we differ? In so many ways! We’re entirely different!
Some student sitting somewhere in the lecture hall shouted out, “Desks are easier to observe!” and the professor replied, “Well yes, of course! You all have free will – desks obviously do not.”
Then some girl sitting in the front row stood up and announced, “I sure do!” and proceeded to sing the first few lines of Let it Go before sitting back down.
Oh. That was pleasant, I suppose.
Come to think of it, that wasn’t even the first spontaneous interruption that’s taken place in that class. Just last week, we were being lectured on Structured Functionalism when all of a sudden, everyone heard this loud thump.
Everyone quieted down and turned to a girl who was in the process of hitting her pencil case on the head of the girl who was sitting in front of her.
Slap.
Slap.
Slap.
After completely messing up the girl’s hair, she proceeded to explain to us and to the girl that she saw a wasp in her hair. I liked how the explanation came after. Plus, as this girl was swinging her pencil case at the girl’s hair, some other girl a few rows back was screaming, “OH MY GOD, IT’S GONNA STING HER!! STOPPP!” and her utterly panicked tone only added to the drama and confusion of the moment.
Luckily, the wasp was eliminated and no one was stung in the process. I don’t know why the girl in the lecture hall had a wasp in her hair. This was also about 3/4 through class so I don’t know if the wasp just happened to land there or if it had been hiding in her hair since class began. Either way, it has been eternally punished for its decision. 🙁
I like my Intro to Sociology class. There’s also this kid who insists on sitting behind the professor. I remember I looked at my friend one class and asked, “Why is he sitting there?” and she casually responded, “He’s challenging social norms.” I must have missed the discussion when that was explained?? As far as I could tell, it looked like he randomly decided to sit down on stage and face the lecture hall instead of facing the professor.
I was also amused by the fact that his decision to sit there wasn’t challenged by my professor. I actually love that. I hate structured environments that prevent random things like that from happening. It’s those kinds of decisions that contribute to the creativity and originality of the world that surrounds us.
I look forward to what I hope continues to be a very bizarre semester of Intro to Sociology!
Your classes sound amazing! I can’t wait to hear what else happens in them! 🙂
Haha thank you, Chloemayward! I’m glad you liked my story! ^.^
Good post. Ruthless Rutgers. 🙂 Here’s to an absence of structure.
Yay for nonconformity! 😉
Thanks, Eric!!
Your sociology class sounds like a lot of fun. I also love environments that allow people to be themselves and free. My intro to sociology was never that fun. I can’t wait to hear what else happens in your class.
Thanks Rebecca! 😀
I love classes like this 🙂 hopefully they don’t disappear in my science degree!
I KNOWWW! I’m thinking about switching to the sciences (taking biology and chemistry this semester) and I know I WILL miss the social sciences. Perhaps I’ll have to do a minor in one to balance it out? 🙂
I’m thinking the same thing – provided I even get in at the start of next year! I may end up with a semester off if I can’t get my bridging courses finished in time :S
Good luck! It can be such a process trying to navigate the system. Are you trying to transfer to a different university? I hope you finish on time!
Yes! My current uni has a decent science degree but the support here is crap so I’m going elsewhere next year (hopefully)
Best of luck in transferring to another university! I hope you finish the courses that are required so you can stay on schedule. If not, you could always find some other way to spend your time. Maybe work and make extra money? Or get involved in research! I’m sure everything will work out for you. 🙂
Haha if I don’t get in I think I’ll just take a semester break 🙂
Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. Best of luck to you, Thoughtsofmymadlife! 😀 REMEMBER TO NEVER ABANDON SOCIOLOGY
Losz, I love how people are challenging social norms in sociology class. Nothing like that would ever happen in my history classes, unfortunately!
Funny how that works, isn’t it? You should take the class if you get a chance! 🙂
I’m kind of obsessed with the tone that you write in on this blog! I also LOVED this post! It was a very animated look into what your class was like. Looking forward to reading more!!!! 🙂
Haha thank you, Brooke!!! 😀 I’m so glad you enjoyed the story! ^.^
I took Intro to Sociology last semester but my class was never like this! Looking forward to hearing about more interesting things that happen in your class.
Haha aw man. I hope you still enjoyed the subject! 🙂
Lucky you! I wish I had some action in my classes. Can’t wait to see what is up next. I enjoyed this.
Glad you enjoyed! 😀
These are great stories for your first day of classes, haha. Nothing says back to school like situations like these. Your posts are super interesting, I’m definitely keeping up with all of them!
Thank you so much! 🙂