I think a common struggle of college is hating some of the classes you take. Specifically, the classes that pertain to your major that are pretty much useless. As an English Education major, I've taken one education class so far that I will use in my classroom, and I've only been able to take one English class so far, and it's been excruciating.

This class has been the bane of my existence. For starters, I had already taken the course in high school (thank you, AP Lang) but since it's a two semester course, I can only exempt one semester, even though the content is the same. Wait, what? If it's the same content, why can I not be exempt? I already know this content. I know what a noun is (thank you School House Rock and Mrs. Butler, my 2nd grade teacher).

I get it. The class has to cover basics to put everyone on the same playing field, but we are one week away from spring break, which is past the halfway point of the semester and what are we studying today? Semi colons. What? Why are we going over a semi colon? Not only that, but why are we spending the whole class period going over a semi colon? Yes. I know how to properly use a semi colon. Thank you.

I answer your questions and you tell me that, "Obviously," in your best interpretation of Severus Snape, "Caroline knows how to use these, but does everyone else?" Then, you proceed to ramble on and beat a dead horse about how to use a semi colon. You state I know how to use this and then you give me an F for classwork because, "Obviously, you don't understand how to use this, and it's crucial you understand how to use a semi colon, otherwise you will never be a good writer."

Well, that's a slap in the face and a punch to the gut.

This professor and class is making me hate English. I'm slowly learning to dread this class, I'm dreading the assignments, I'm dreading reading.

I'm dreading doing what I love.

I love writing, reading, and analyzing. I love English. I love what I've chosen to major in and yet, you, Doctor So and So, are slowly driving me away from my favorite subject. I love grammar. I love everything that comes with English, and yet, you are slowly killing this passion.

These classes happen to everyone I've talked to about it, and apparently it's common to have many professors like this. I don't like loathing English. I don't like hating my favorite class. I absolutely detest that my professor makes me doubt something that I once thought I excelled in. I abhor that I now question whether I should continue writing.

So, to you Dr. BreakMyHeartandDon'tEvenRealizeIt, you have actually taught me something about English: I still love it and I will do my best to never criticize my students' strengths.

My classroom will focus on my students' strengths, instead of tearing them down. When my students fail it will not be because "You just don't understand. I've been over this concept since the first day of class." It will be on me, not the students, for their confusion, because I am the teacher. It is my job to clarify and address their confusion, not point fingers at them for something they don't understand yet.

I will try my best to never make my students feel stupid, to second guess who they are and what they love, or to blame my students for my failings.

I will persevere and I will prove that I know grammar. I will do better; I also know how to use semi colons, even if you fail me on my quizzes for my "lack of competence."