Well, it's time for the Friday Five

I fear I may have passed out of their demographic, age-wise: to wit, question 1:

1. Are you going to school this year?

that ship sailed a long time ago. Or at least it feels like a long time ago.

2. If yes, where are you going (high school, college, etc.)? If no, when did you graduate?

I could post my whole curriculum vita here, but suffice it to say: B.S., 1990, M.S., 1995, Ph.D., 1999.

diploma honors on the B.S., and when I graduated high school (1987) I received diploma honors in French, English, and Biology.

3. What are/were your favorite school subjects?

Biology, of course, but I also enjoyed English and art and French...actually, I liked most of school with the possible exception of Calculus and the few classes where I had teachers who had personality problems.

4. What are/were your least favorite school subjects?

Phys. ed. No, really. I was uncoordinated well into college, and I was the Little Fat Kid (at least after puberty I was), so Phys. Ed. was painful for me - not painful because I didn't like to run or play tennis but painful because of the comments I got on how I looked in my gym clothes.

5. Have you ever had a favorite teacher? Why was he/she a favorite?

Several, actually:

Mrs. Breuker, high school AP biology - she is the person who made me finally decide that I wanted to be a biologist, and specifically, teach biology.

Dr. Pryce, high school French - he was so educated and knowledgeable, but also very funny and kind.

Mr. Radie, 6th grade science - again, a really nice guy, the kind of person who could spot the unpopular kids and make them feel better about themselves, and also a good teacher.

Mrs. Irish, 3rd grade homeroom and science - Funny, sweet, didn't play favorites, was willing to take time when you needed it. Had a "treasure box" of small prizes (tiny plastic horses and the like) for when you did something particularly well.

Mrs. Ashton, 4th grade homeroom - again, a kind person, someone who made life a little less hellish for the unpopular kids.

Dr. Tosney, college (developmental biology) because she took time to talk to me and commiserate with me when I was asked to leave the graduate program I was in.

I think the main thread in all of that is that they were people who cared and who believed that everyone deserved to be treated with kindness and dignity, and that popularity, or money, or intelligence didn't define a person's worth.