{"id":25437,"date":"2015-09-24T14:54:28","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T18:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/?p=25437"},"modified":"2016-03-29T19:50:52","modified_gmt":"2016-03-29T23:50:52","slug":"one-blogger-two-introductions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2015\/09\/24\/one-blogger-two-introductions\/","title":{"rendered":"One Blogger, Two Introductions"},"content":{"rendered":"<span style=\"color: #000000\">Hello Internet! My name is Emma and I am a new member of the Community Crew this year, writing for CTSI (Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation). I am going into my fourth year (eek!) double majoring in Ethics, Society, and Law and Literature and Critical Theory, minoring in Philosophy, and flirting with various French courses on the side. I like dogs, Oxford commas, and wearing hats.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_25446\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25446\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a style=\"color: #000000\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/picture-for-blog-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-25446 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/picture-for-blog-1.jpg\" alt=\"A picture of new blogger, Emma Smith, standing by a lake with her dog\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/picture-for-blog-1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/picture-for-blog-1-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-25446\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000\">Here I am, wearing a hat, holding my dog, and thinking about Oxford commas.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">It\u2019s nice to meet you all! At least, cyber-meet you. I guess I haven\u2019t really met you at all yet, have I? At this point, I\u2019m pushing buttons on a little silver box and hoping that someone might receive and decode the message on the other end. Maybe you will, maybe you won\u2019t. I mean, who are \u201cyou\u201d anyway?<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Wait, what?<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">We seem to have a Schr\u00f6dinger\u2019s reader dilemma on our hands, assuming there is a \u201cwe\u201d at all\u2026<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Hello?<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">...<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">That got really uncomfortable really quickly, didn\u2019t it? Bear with me; the point is that introductions are AWKWARD. Having established this, it\u2019s time to take it up a level. This time, we\u2019re tackling\u00a0the ultimate\u00a0awkward introduction. Never fear! Now that we\u2019re so well acquainted, you can count on me to hold your hand throughout.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Brace yourself, for you are now on your way to\u2026 OFFICE HOURS! (Duh duh duhhhhh!)<\/span>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">(The following pep talk is most effective accompanied by Survivor\u2019s 1982 pump-up anthem, \u201cEye of the Tiger\u201d)<\/span>\r\n\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/btPJPFnesV4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">This is it. Today is the day that you forge a relationship with your academic superior. You want to learn from her, make a new connection on LinkedIn, and give yourself a better shot at that coveted A. You only have a two-hour window so you had better get going!<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">You dress for success and grab your things;\u00a0don't forget\u00a0to pack any course readings, syllabi, or other course materials you might like to discuss. You\u2019re feeling confident as you head outside. With each step, though, the doubts start creeping in.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_25451\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25451\" style=\"width: 584px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a style=\"color: #000000\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3234.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-25451 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3234-e1443015939944-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A picture of a rock on campus, perfect for hiding under when you're afraid to go to office hours\" width=\"584\" height=\"779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3234-e1443015939944-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3234-e1443015939944-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-25451\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000\">Look! A hiding place!<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">You consider taking cover under that rock you just passed. I know what you\u2019re thinking: What if I freeze up? What if I can\u2019t think of anything intelligent to say? What if I waste the professor\u2019s time?<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Don\u2019t worry! You trained for this. You did your readings, you went to lecture, maybe you even researched your professor's areas of study or read some of her work.\u00a0You have questions to ask and you have insights to share.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Even if you say something that isn\u2019t quite on the mark, don\u2019t sweat it; mistakes only facilitate intellectual dialogue. Your professor isn\u2019t some fairy-tale troll who pushes people off the bridge when they get the wrong answer.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Professors are people, just like us; I know this because I saw one at the grocery store one time. We have to remember that they were undergrads once, too. They don\u2019t encourage you to come to office hours because it\u2019s some kind of trap. They want you to come because they want to help you. It\u2019s all part of this grand academic tradition that we all belong to as members of the\u00a0UofT community.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Besides, it would be super boring and disheartening to sit alone in an office for two hours, waiting on people who might not show up. <a style=\"color: #000000\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=576TsBiJpm4\" target=\"_blank\">Just look at this heartbreaking PSA video about empty office hours from CTSI.<\/a><\/span>\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_25452\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25452\" style=\"width: 584px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a style=\"color: #000000\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3277.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-25452 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3277-e1443016240301-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A picture of a squirrel on the grass in Queen's Park, on its hind legs, with the sidewalk and street in the background.\" width=\"584\" height=\"779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3277-e1443016240301-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/09\/IMG_3277-e1443016240301-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-25452\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000\">That is one sketchy-looking squirrel. You consider turning tail and heading home.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">I know that squirrel just gave you a menacing look (shudder) but shake it off and keep moving.\u00a0Your\u00a0professor, an expert in things that you signed up to study, is waiting. You have the opportunity to engage with her and pick her brains! Who knows? If you go introduce yourself, you might even get a chin wave on your way into the lecture hall next week.\u00a0It all seems too good to pass up!<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">You're so close now. Take a deep breath, climb those steps, march up to that door, and start with \u201cHi my name is\u2026\u201d Trust me, you\u2019ll be glad you did. Afterwards, reward yourself with a cupcake or some other treat because by golly you earned it!<\/span>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">I hope you find this pep talk helpful. If I see someone walking purposefully across campus with \u201cEye of the Tiger\u201d rattling out of their headphones, I\u2019ll know that someone read it and put it to use. To that someone I say, nice to meet you! Maybe introductions aren\u2019t that awkward after all, huh?<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-summary\">\n<div class=\"entry-summary\">\nHello Internet! My name is Emma and I am a new member of the Community Crew this year, writing for CTSI (Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation). I am going into my fourth year (eek!) double majoring in Ethics, Society,&hellip;\n<\/div><div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2015\/09\/24\/one-blogger-two-introductions\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;One Blogger, Two Introductions&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2015\/09\/24\/one-blogger-two-introductions\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;One Blogger, Two Introductions&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"author":271,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[405,176,138,2486,248,1837],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25437"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/271"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25437"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25437\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28178,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25437\/revisions\/28178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}