Clarissa's Blog

The only time I get to meet students’ parents is this time of the academic year when prospective students visit campus.

I always volunteer to represent our department at this event because I have an unexpected and rare gift of making people feel very comfortable around me. Often, people come up to the table to enquire about French or German but after talking to me ask, “So what are you teaching?  Oh, Spanish. My daughter has never taken any Spanish. But maybe she could start now because I’d like her to take courses with you.”

This is a very fun activity because the parents are even more terrified than the prospective students, and I enjoy putting them at ease. I’m not naturally a warm person, especially not around strangers but I can turn the warmth on like heating.

If the system of higher education collapses, I will not be averse to trying a career in sales.