Last night as the storms were rolling in over North Mount Pleasant, I sat down to watch the movie Mona Lisa Smile. You know, the one where Julia Roberts is a College Art History Professor (Katherine Ann Watson) from California and takes a job at the ultra conservative Wellesley College in Massachusetts. There she rattles the norm and shakes the currents as she encourages her students to think outside the box .. question things around them .. live to be their own person.
I started thinking back to my own Katherine Ann Watson from my own college days. Many of you probably had one as well. That one college professor that came along and kind of changed everything.
My Katherine Watson is Ms. Robin Street, professor of Journalism at my alma mater, the University of Mississippi, and this week’s Mah-velous Magnolia.
I still remember the first time I popped into her office. I was about to change majors for the 5th time (year #2 in college, mind you) to Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. Ms. Street had been assigned my advisor. Who knew I was about to start the adventure which I would soon learn to call my life.
I instantly knew Ms. Street wasn’t one of those teachers who would be too busy to stop what she was doing to talk to me. (a trait which I’m sure wore her patience with me a time or two along the line!) She was real, she was honest, she was caring, she was passionate and she was exactly what I needed to help me figure out my scholastic career path. There was an admirable quality in her I sensed from our first meeting that afternoon in late spring and as I walked away from Farley Hall I knew I’d met someone truly great who would have a lasting impact on my life.
My first Journalism class was one of her’s, Intro to Public Relations. And in the next class of her’s, I met one of my closest college friends ever. Somehow she managed to put up with our behavior for two more classes after that. Even though she could never really say it, I have a feeling that Bethany and I were her favorite students of all time … but that could never be confirmed of course. (At least there’s a good chance we were two of the most memorable!)
I remember running into her office when my first article was published in the school newspaper, when I had a break between classes, when I was on the verge of a complete and utter break down and didn’t know where else to go, when somehow I ended up in the craziest English class offered in the course book and almost dropped out but she urged me to stay in and have an open mind – which by the way is the class I was introduced to now one of my favorite authors – Oscar Wilde (how did she always just seem to know??), when I was having boy issues but couldn’t exactly talk about them because that boy just happened to be in her class with me, when I finally started realizing just how much I loved writing, when I was setting up my schedule for my final semester of my college career, and when I handed her the invitation to my graduation party…..I remember it all like it was yesterday.
She was there for all of it and more. An incredibly talented writer and public relations expert, MS. Street was one of those teachers who spoke from experience. I greatly admired her professional accomplishments and respected her as a person and not just my college professor. (Which I still very much do today!) She encouraged me to find my own path and supported whatever ideas I would spout out. She had her own special way of letting you know if you were slipping or your work could be better. A master of reverse psychology (I’m convinced), because I always worked harder when the constructive criticism came from Ms. Street.
I don’t think I could ever thank Ms. Street enough for her guidance and inspiration. I’m not sure I would’ve made it through to graduation day if it hadn’t of been for her! (and I’m not the only one – Bethany I know you’re nodding your head too) I can however say this:
Thank you, Ms. Street, for being that one college professor for me…for being my Katherine Watson. I, along with every one of your students past and present, am forever grateful.
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So now I ask you, dear readers, who was your Katherine Watson?
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The Mah-velous Magnolia badge will be awarded each Friday to a selected lady {or a few..or fellas..we’ll see!} who has had an impact on my week. Who knows — maybe you’ll be up next!
*photo credits: Farley Hall, Ms. Street
