In college, I feared taking English classes. The only courses I feared more were Public speaking courses. I really feared public speaking, but that's another

In college, I feared taking English classes. The only courses I feared more were Public speaking courses. I really feared public speaking, but that's another story. I knew my grammer was horrid, and I just wasen't interested in writing. I was interested in science--and girls? Well, I remember this one English 101 instructor. No one in the class could please this guy. His favorite saying was, "I don't grade on the curve, because I've had too many stupid classes!" We all nervously laughed, but we were scared. Everyone seemed to try, but all our papers were given back with so much red felt tip graffiti; everyone just wanted to get through his class. We just wrote short choppy sentences, and tried to keep the grammatical errors down. He once had the nerve to say, "Most of you are passing, but your papers are so boring!" I remember thinking, whenever we get slightly creative, you beat the hell out of our papers? I personally think he would have liked to fail all of us, but he didn't have tenure? Well I got through class, but with some horrid memories. Well, I needed four, or five (He taught us to write out numbers under 10. I'm still not sure about that, but do it out of fear) English classes in order to graduate. I took all the courses in my last semester of college. My other instructors were great. This one guy scared me so much, I just figured everyone in the English department was like this guy. Well, they weren't. The other instructors were great. They weren't easy, but sincerely wanted to help. I had one instructor tell us I've met very few natural writers. It's a craft. Yes, like woodworking. (It wasn't a cliche back then.) I'll always remember that advice. Plus--he told us his personal story. When he was in school he hated writing, but with the right training, and encouragement, he went from a science major, to a Engish major. I think he had a PhD, but didn't want us to call him doctor. He had such a thick Indian accent, I really had to pay attention in class, but learned more in one week in his course than all the rest. I forget his name, but I remember him saying, "My name rhymes with Desi--from the Lucy show." He was a really good person/teacher.