(LinkedIn) Uptight Professionals Are Not The Vibe
As I sit here entering final grades, I always find myself pausing to reflect on the semester, and how important teaching has become to me.
I’ll never forget the first class I taught at Sheridan back in September 2018. I was so nervous I was almost sick in the car on the way to campus 🤢. I had created this immense pressure on myself (no surprise there) to be “the most professional” and “put together.” It honestly didn’t feel natural, but I guess I thought things went okay at the time. I didn’t 🤮 in front of the class so that was a win in my books!
Week 2 rolled around, and when I was back in front of the class, I did a quick “check-in” to see how people were feeling after their 1st week of the semester. One of the students quickly raised her hand and said point blankly “Things are fine, but I’m feeling like you might be a little UPTIGHT.”
I was speechless!!!!! She didn’t even know me!!!! No one in the history of the world ever thought I… me… Shannon Knelsen… was uptight! It was in that moment I realized that I wasn’t being my authentic self, and I definitely needed to loosen up a bit - so I did just that 😉
No one has ever called me “uptight” in a classroom ever again 😂 I wonder if V.A. even knows how much of an impact she had on my life. If she’s reading this, I hope she reaches out to me 🤍
Most people don’t believe me when I say that I’m an introvert. This right here is probably a prime example for why that is 😂 I learned very early on this life that having a sense of humour is extremely important... maybe one of the most important things in my opinion.
If you can’t have fun, and laugh at yourself, we probably wont get along very well. I have a really hard time being around people who take themselves too seriously or who can’t take a joke.
Please make me a promise that you’ll never be so “uptight” and “professional” that you lose sight of who you really are on the inside. Say the weird and bold things. Wear the sombrero. Laugh as much as humanly possible… until your cheeks and belly hurt 🤍 You’ll establish much more meaningful connections with your people this way. Don’t take yourself or life too seriously… none of us make it out alive anyway. ✌🏻
