In a university that relies on massive, lecture-based classes to educate a herd of students, it's easy to feel neglected and forgotten. However, I recently found that being another face in the crowd has its benefits.
This semester, I'm registered for a bunch of those classes. In order to keep up with all the notes, I've begun bringing my laptop to class.
The problem is that my laptop has grown incredibly slow after three years worth of downloaded laughing-baby videos. I'm forced to arrive 10 minutes early and stay 10 minutes late to start up and shut down the relic.
Over time, this process became so slow that it stretched into the next class period. I didn't want to disrupt, so I sat down and continued my work while the instructor taught the class. No one said anything. In a class that large, taking roll isn't common, but an unfamiliar face is.
Then I thought to myself: If no one's going to notice me, why not stick around?
So now my old Dell and I linger in the back of the room, unnoticed, two and three periods beyond my regularly scheduled class. It's great. I can get a lot of work done and listen in on classes I would have never thought of taking such as geology and public relations.
If I ever have to give a press conference on continental drift, I'll know what to do.
People might think I'm that nerd who gets to class early and stays late, but I don't care. I imagine I'm Vince Vaughn in "Wedding Crashers," except I'm crashing your international relations class.
I'm starting to feel like an actual student in these classes. I'll catch myself from time to time muttering answers to instructors' questions and accepting test forms. I have to remind myself that I'm not a member of the family - I'm just the stranger at the table who everyone assumes is the new boyfriend.
Sometimes I worry I'll be discovered, but I figure if worst comes to worst, I'll pack up and leave. I'm also considering leaping up to my feet and declaring "You've all been fooled!" before running out of the room laughing.
I plan on keeping this up for as long as I can. I might as well receive the education I'm paying for. And if I don't have to pay for it, all the better.
This university owes us something for being cattle.
