Article January 1, 2000 Issue

"He had charted my personality"

Elizabeth Toohey—New York, New York

Last fall, I took a position as an adjunct professor at a college in the Bronx. I taught two composition courses in the mornings and held office hours in between.

At least half a dozen instructors shared department offices. I shared mine with a colleague whose hours overlapped with mine. He was a new instructor who was teaching while he completed his degree.

At the time, I was feeling inadequate as a professor. I was, and still am close in age to many of my students. I joked with my friends that I'd never taught anything before, except swimming for 12-year olds.

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