So tired...

Rory's cohort members weren't much help when Rory dozed off in class and the professor took a photo and Tweeted it out into the world.

"Thanks future colleagues!" Rory said. Or would have said if it weren't for that sleep thing.

Shhh.

Sometimes Rory talks too much in class. Rory doesn't leave space for other people to share their thoughts, ideas, and questions. Rory needs to speak less and listen more. 

Also, Rory needs to quit bringing a megaphone to class. 

Impostor

Rory hates it when they are the only one who doesn't know the answer to the question in class. Rory thinks, "Maybe grad school isn't for me. Maybe everyone else is smarter than I am. They are going to figure out I don't know what I'm doing. What am I going to do if they ask me to leave the program? What will my parents say? I can't move back there because my room is now a craft nook and the basement is where my grandma stores her pickled beets. I don't think I belong here."

Rory, don't worry. What you're feeling is typical. However, just because it's a commonly shared experience doesn't mean it feels good. What you're feeling is called "Impostor Syndrome." It's real. Everyone else experiences it sometimes, too.

Keep working at it, Rory. You're probably doing better than you think. And don't be afraid to ask for help.

Also, exactly how many beets does your grandma pickle?!

Power

Faculty members are magic and can make wishes come true. They can share new wisdom and insights with you. They can encourage you to share your own wisdom and insights. They can open doors and sometimes push your through them into new, uncomfortable learning spaces. They can give good grades to you when you write the paper at the last minute. 

But maybe the most important power of all is that faculty members can cancel class. 

(pause)

But I don't think that's really the most important power of all. Actually, I hope not many faculty members become faculty members for the power. That would be kinda messed up. 

Clearly they become faculty members because of the fashion culture embedded in that profession. I mean because of the students.