…never finish the assigned reading and still crush the discussion.
...NEVER FINISH THE ASSIGNED READING AND STILL CRUSH THE DISCUSSION.
Follow for more real talk about the authentic student and alumni experience.
Let’s be honest. You know the drill. That weekly reading list, a towering literary Everest designed to make you question your life choices. Did anyone, truly anyone, ever finish every single assigned page of every single book? Or were we all just perfecting the art of the strategic skim, the Wikipedia deep dive, or the whispered pre-class intellectual download from a friend who actually did the work?
Walking into that seminar, heart pounding, armed with nothing but a few choice phrases gleaned from a summary or an unparalleled ability to improvise on the spot. And then, the magic happened. You’d nod sagely, weave a surprisingly coherent argument, perhaps drop a perfectly timed obscure reference (thank you, quick Google search during a bathroom break), and somehow, you'd not just participate, you'd dominate the discussion.
It wasn't just about getting by; it was about mastering a unique form of intellectual agility. The ability to synthesize, to critically analyze with limited input, to perform under pressure – skills, dare we say, as valuable as rote memorization. This peculiar ritual, this high-stakes academic tightrope walk, is almost a badge of honor.
Alumni, you remember the thrill, don’t you? The shared glance with a classmate that said, "We are so faking it, and we are so good at it." It’s a quintessential part of our shared narrative, a testament to the resourcefulness fostered in these incredibly demanding environments. It’s not just a memory; it’s a superpower.