Conversations with Student Z
I have this student who is smart, funny, engaged, and probably on the spectrum, but I never got a notice, so let's just go with atypical. He likes to pop in my office for very brief, sometimes funny, sometimes brutally honest discussions. In the last three days:
Student Z: Can I hug you?
Me, startled because whoa, didn't see him there: No, sorry. My illnesses make hugging painful. Not a hugger.
Student Z: You don't look like a hugger. I should have known. [Immediately walks away]
Me: Wait, Z. You okay?
Student Z: I just need hugs today. It's Monday.
-----
Student Z: [head pops in only, grinning] I BELIEVE IN YOU, DR LEX!
Me: I BELIEVE IN YOU, Z!
Student Z: Wait, like really? Really seriously?
----
Student Z: Have you, Dr. Lex, ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
Me: I'm usually in bed before moonrise, so our dances tend to be more sunlit.
Student Z: That was a movie reference. Did you get it?
Me: Batman, yep!
Student Z: [in Batman voice] I am Batman
Me: You should try that voice during peer workshopping today
Student Z: [in Batman voice] This paper needs a lot of work.
----
Student Z: Are those acne scars on your face?
Me: Some. My set of illnesses makes breakouts last longer, heal slower, and my skin periodically tries to eat itself (psoriasis related to ankylosing spondylitis)
Student Z: I have some. Can they heal? I want to look normal. How do you cope?
Me: Oh, Z. It's been a long time since that's bothered me. The world is huge and beautiful.
Student Z: It is. That reminds me. I forgot to do the make up homework.
-----
Student Z: You're wearing makeup! It looks so pretty!
Me: I'm not feeling great, so I thought I'd try to look alive. You wouldn't want your prof to be an animated corpse, right?
Student Z: I don't know. The Walking Dead is a cool show. Do you think it's dystopian?
Me: Class starts in 20 minutes. I'll need three hours to answer that question.
...............
And that's just the last 3 days.
