During the first years of elementary school, children often believe their teachers live at school and have no other purpose besides to educate them. As years go on many silly ideas about educators get proven wrong, and when college comes around, the student-teacher dynamic is much different. Incoming freshmen are told again and again to make sure their professors know who they are. Upon hearing this, students think to sit in the front row, raise their hand often and visit office hours.
But how many students actually get to know their professors? It’s easy to look at them as just educators and nothing more when the only interaction is about school. Believe it or not they have lives outside of campus and they get three months every year to explore. Although some instructors teach through the entire summer, many take the time off to focus on other aspects of their lives.
Computer science instructor Kanika Sood has family spread out across America and the world. She tries to see everyone she loves in the summer by either inviting them to visit Eugene, or by planning vacations.
“I have taken up an eight week course and will be spending the rest of the summer visiting my sisters in Seattle and New York,” Sood said.
She also loves to visit her home country India and her favorite summer destinations the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
For certain professors summer isn’t exactly a break, but more so a time where they have a chance to put their efforts elsewhere. Just because a professor devotes the majority of the year to teaching does not mean that is what they are all about. Some use the summer as a time to better themselves emotionally and physically. Psychology professor Holly Arrow likes to relax in the summer by gardening or floating the Willamette River with her boyfriend, however she also likes to stay in shape.
“I just finished competing in the Masters division at the Crossfit Games, for the third year in a row in Carson, California,” Arrow said.
She not only competes at the games, but also likes to stay for a few extra days and cheer on the younger athletes and teams as they compete.
Many professors enjoy summer because not only do they get a break from school, their children get a break also. Having lived in Eugene with her family for the last 13 years, dance instructor Sarah Ebert knows that Eugene has an abundance of fun activities. The change of pace during summer gives Ebert a chance to spend more time with her family while also being able to take on other projects.
“I’ve had time to work daily with the Eugene Ballet Company on a performance for the Oregon Bach Festival as well as other week long intensives throughout the summer for the Eugene Ballet Academy and Eugene Youth Ballet,” Ebert said.
Breaking the ice with a professor may not seem easy, but by getting to know these wonderful educators they can serve us as mentors, advisors and for support. Listening to some of their incredible life stories may even spark a new passion.