Dave Karofsky

If you truly want to do something non-traditional than why not skip said exam? Unless the university dictates that they have to take an exam to pass the class of course. In that case, have them recite their favorite work of Chaucer in front of strangers in Central Park. 

As much as I would relish the title of Coolest Professor at NYU, unfortunately the university does require some measurement of end-of-course learning, and they generally do prefer that in the form of an exam. I can get away with having a non-traditional exam, and even a bit f a non-traditional rubric. But, a nonsensical paper is just as nonsensical when presented as fact, if you know what I mean. That being said...I’ve got to do something to keep the ‘powers that be’ happy. I like that idea, actually. That’s really interesting. I may play with it a little but I actually think that could be a part of the overall picture. That’s pretty creative. It’s good to see you again, Wren. How have you been?

I tell ya, it’s damn hard to always try and be positive, when things get tough I like to remind myself that even super positive people can get sad and grumpy at times. And it helps to have friends that remind me that that’s totally okay. So thanks for being there dude, really means a lot. That would be perfect, I’ll make sure to be free around two. Dude, you’re too good for them, Those kids should feel lucky to have a professor like you. Duh, do you even have to ask, course I wanna hear it!

I know that feeling , I promise you aren’t alone in that. You’re right, perfection doesn’t exist. This is going to sound cliche but your emotions are still valid, and you have every right to feel them. Positivity is great, but life wasn’t meant to be all rainbows. As much as that does suck. You don’t need to thank me, Sam. I’m here, and that won’t change. Great, see you then! You’re funny. I’m tempted to say I would pay money to see their reactions to you telling them that. Okay, so....Hear me out. With everything happening the way it is, it really seems like you could use a break. What if you flew out to NYC and stayed with me for a couple of days? It would get you out of Lima, and I would love to see you!

Hello, whassup, Ryder here! Yep, I guess summer was relaxing back in the day, when we went to school. Nowadays, it just bothers everybody with hot weather and work schedule conflicts as people wanna go on vacation. Back to the Witcher…well, it’s pretty cool, I like the stories, and the main character is totally da boss. If you enjoy the show, check out the games, they’re good!

Yeah, it sure feels as if the whole universe is gaining up on me. I’ll survive, like I always do, but it’s hard to stay positive when you have a day like that sometimes. Well, it’s summer, so I’ve got nothing but time for ya, man. We can facetime whenever you want. Good to hear you’re doing alright. How’s summer break going for you? Havin’ some down time or did you plan a ton of things so you’re even busier then normal? 

Hey, don’t think like that man. I know it feels that way, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. You’re right though, and I get it. Positivity isn’t the easiest anyway, but it’s worse when life keeps slapping you in the face like that. Tell you what, I’ll give you a FaceTime call tomorrow afternoon; I should be freed up by about two. We’ll take it from there, yeah? Summer break? Does that still exist? Kidding. Mine technically hasn’t started yet. You’re right, I’m doing a ton of planning at the moment, but they also roped me into teaching a class for the first summer session this year. So, for the next week and a half I’m still stuck teaching Chaucer. After that, though...Hey, I’ve got an idea. Wanna hear it?

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), it’s the re-recording of Taylor’s Swift’s 2010 album, Speak Now. And it’s not bad, it’s just emotional for me, for various reasons, and my brain decided that hyperfocusing on it to the point I cannot listen to anything else was a good idea. It was not. Doesn’t help that my wife is currently in Scotland.

No, I completely agree. I mean, some part of me always wanted to be a poet for a living, but I very quickly realized, that’s a lot of work and a lot money in the front end and if you don’t make it big you’re going to be struggling forever. So, I think I’ve accepted that I won’t ever do it full time, but at the same time I do still do it for money so… there’s that. And there’s nothing wrong with rambling.

I was a comparative lit major at Harvard, which I think I only did because I was told I should, but admittedly, I don’t read nearly as much as I used to. Should get back into that, and I completely get you on the whole not reading what you teach, even though I don’t teach. I had a teacher once say that no matter what you’re reading, as long as you still are, you’re better off than you are if you’re not reading. Mack, and I imagine it’s possible, but I can’t say I’ve ever met any family that might exist. My mother never spoke of my father and now I don’t speak to my mother.

A poet, really? That’s awesome, you don’t hear too much of that these days. I feel like when I was in school (which, admittedly, just saying that phrase shows my age more than I normally do) it felt like every other person wanted to be a poet, a writer, an artist...You still hear of a ton of people flocking to the arts, but it seems the written arts aren’t quite as top-tier as they once were. In my opinion, at least. Even though that was a little tangential, I say that to say I get where you’re coming from. Obviously everyone else does too, given we haven’t heard anything about thousands of premiere poets flooding the field. At least, I haven’t. It’s good to hear you’re still doing it, even part time. That’s important. And, maybe it’ll make it easier to keep thinking of it as a hobby or an outlet. I’m glad you carry that opinion, because clearly I do a lot of it.