I guarantee every student during their time spent at school will be lucky enough to get, what I like to call, a Professor from Hell. Now, how would I characterize a Professor from Hell? I can’t! They come in all shapes and sizes (and smells).

Professor Denim

My first Professor from Hell was my math teacher freshman year. He was an elderly man, quite large, smelled of cigarettes and gasoline. He wore all denim, all the time, party time? He was out of breath even when sitting. But what he looked like had nothing to do with it…well maybe. His problem was that he was boring, on top of that, ignorant towards anything the class put forward. If you didn’t understand something, Professor Denim wasn’t the one to ask. I knew he wouldn’t be any good, just by his striking resemblance to Jeff Bridge’s character in Iron Man, Obadiah Stane (only 100lbs heavier).

Professor Young ‘n French

Next, because you can’t have just one, was a young, quite attractive professor from France. She never wore the same thing once. She was always on time. And was extremely strict when it came to teaching. Her problem wasn’t so much the way she taught, but what she taught [n-o-t-h-i-n-g]. The class was one of the many generic classes the university requires you to take during your stay, this class happened to be about exclusively about PLAY. Now, how much is there really to learn about Play? There is a good solid week of information that could be taught about PLAY. Somehow, Professor Young ‘n French spread this week of material into a YEAR LONG CLASS. And boy was it a fun year. Even more surprising, the university is no longer offering that class…I wonder why. Did I mention she helped create the class and curriculum?

How to survive Hell

It’s a fact, you will get an EVIL PROFESSOR FROM HELL. I’ve compiled a list of tips for when you get so lucky:

• Sit in the middle of the classroom: The professor won’t hate you for sitting in the back, but won’t talk to you for sitting up front.
• Do the minimum: I don’t like to tell people that, but when it comes to those fluff-filled wonder piles called University Required Classes, just do what you have to do, no more.
• Leave feedback: Most universities have some sort of feedback system students can fill out about their classes. Make sure to be honest about the classes and include what was wrong with the professor. You may have just saved a future student from having the joy of getting a Professor from Hell.

Your Experience

I want to know about your experiences with terrible teachers. Leave a little note in the comments. I thank you kindly.