My very first semester of college; how nerve-wracking yet exhilarating. I felt like I was ready even though I was afraid I wouldn't like my teachers. Sarah, one of my roommates and close friend from high school, pointed out my World Civilizations class to me. She assured me that I would enjoy the course but would also learn a lot from the professor, Dr. Joseph Laythe. Not only did he do a great job of teaching history, but he also got me to focus on becoming a better reader and writer. Entering the lecture hall on the first day of class, I chose a seat in the middle row. As more people filled the room, I started to feel more anxious. I knew we were going to revamp the schedule to make it a breeze, but I had no idea how much work would be included. Before even handing out the program, he asked everyone to write their name and an interesting fact about themselves on an index car. We each had to personally give him the card. It was his way of learning who you were. Once everyone was seated, he handed out the schedule and we started going through it. I noticed that I had to buy three books for the class to read and that we would have a total of six assignments to write. At this point I was starting to worry, but Dr. Laythe inspired me with his next announcement. He had been diagnosed with cancer and it was getting worse. I was shocked by his statement and felt a numbness take over my body. He reassured us of his optimistic outlook on life and told us that this life is what we make of it. I knew that instead of worrying about all the work I would have to do, I should take it day by day and do my best. About two weeks into his classes, I thought I was going to get carpal tunnel because of how much no...... middle of paper ......d back with a bad grade. To my surprise, I got a very high B. Dr. Laythe's comments were short, but they were just enough to help me improve my writing and start getting A's. Eventually, the girl I was sitting next to in class started asking me to helped me improve my own writing skills, which made me feel accomplished. As a freshman, I didn't really have the ability to choose which classes I took, nor did I know how to move my classes around. around, but for that I am grateful. His class taught me more about reading and writing than any English class I've ever taken. He guided us only as much as was necessary, then let us discover for ourselves what made me a better student. Dr. Laythe took a medical leave of absence during the spring 2016 semester, and after his long battle with cancer, he passed away on March 12. I was truly fortunate to get to know him and learn so many valuable lessons from him...