Article May 13, 2019 Issue

The truth about opinions

Rosemary S. Pendery

Do people’s opinions have power over us? It might seem as though what others think of us can determine our prospects—our ability to make a contribution, to move forward, even to succeed. If people think well of us, no problem. But if they don’t, what then?

I had to face these questions head-on years ago as a student when I transferred from a small community college to a large university. I was preparing to become a teacher for kindergarten through primary school, and the heads of the primary education department were also my new advisors, the overseers for my student teaching assignment, and the teachers of my education procedures class. It seemed that my future opportunities hinged on their opinion of me, so I worked very hard to make a good impression.

But in spite of my best efforts, these two professors told me they considered my academic background inadequate and my scholastic record and student teaching performance mediocre. I was concerned that their negative opinion might sabotage my prospects for graduating with my class.

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