My favorite professor Wayne Bond
November 6, 20201998 Dr. Wayne Bond
Dr. Bond was a professor at my university. He was one of the leaders in my major, and taught numerous classes that I was enrolled in. Dr. Bond quickly became my all-time favorite professor and major life motivator, and I’ll tell you why.
Up until that point in college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I decided to enroll in the Speech Communication major because it looked easy, and because I was semi good at speaking in front of audiences. But what I would do with this major was completely unknown.
At the same time, I was lacking the drive. I started getting lazy and didn’t want to be challenged. Though I did well in school from a grade perspective, I just wanted to play and have fun and experience the college life, despite the fact that I didn’t have many friends to do it with.
Dr. Bond was one of only a few professors in my major. So I would regularly see him both in class and in the halls. And one thing he always brought with him – a smile. He was happy. He was excited. He looked forward to being there. He enjoyed his job and loved the people. He would come up with so many ideas that I wouldn’t think of, and so many challenges that forced me to work even harder and truly ‘earn’ my degree.
And over time I started looking at him like an idol. I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I wanted to enjoy my career just as much as he did. I wanted to experience the joy of life like he was experiencing.
And that became a pivotal moment for me. Because of his teachings, both inside and outside of the classroom, I pursued a career that would make me happy. And I continue to adapt my life accordingly in hopes I never lose the passion I learned through him.
In fact several years into my career and long after I graduated college, I went back to school just for him. I setup an appointment just to sit down with him and say ‘thank you’. He deserved to know how much of an impact he had on my life. I will forever be grateful for meeting him. If I hadn’t, I would like be in a much different place right now.