Fall 2000

This semester, my first, was the toughest by far for me. Whether because I first came to Emerson College "undeclared" (I was perhaps one of three people in my class to do so -- Emersonians typically have no trouble declaring themselves) or because all Freshmen must endure this, my course load was all core requirements:

• WP121 Research Writing
• TH204 Theatre into Film
• PS339 Psychology of Personality
• LI123 Introduction to Literature

I had this sense that I either wanted to be a writer, or an actor, or maybe a playwright, or possibly an English teacher who also taught drama. So my required courses were at least kind of tailored to my interests, but I still found it tough going.

Interestingly, most of the marginalia I'll be mining from this time will be from Psychology of Personality, which was taught by the indomitable Peter Corea, who, after teaching psychology to dippy arts kids for nearly four decades, had been diagnosed with a terminal disease and had chosen to spend his final months doing what he always had: teaching.

Inspired, I think, by Tuesdays with Morrie (he referenced the book often), his class had less to do with Howard Gardner and more about the antics of Richard Feynman, how words can prevent true understanding, and how if we as a species are ever going to evolve, we have to focus not on unity, but harmony.

Ours was the last full semester he taught. Dr. Peter Corea died the following year. But my 19-year-old mind -- burning as it was with ideas, regrets, judgement, self doubt -- found inspiration in his class and also a much-needed outlet.