TAG YOURSELF: MANDATORY SEMINAR CLASS EDITION

Words by Maddie McShane

Mandatory seminars really are a unique experience. They draw students out from where they lay comfortably in the inner folds of their couch, illuminated by the glow of their computer screen and comforted s by the resounding lull of Echo360 and throw them into the bright backroom of an asbestos-filled building. Put together, the class is often a hodgepodge mix of characters from genres so disparate there is serious deliberation as to how the same degree is being studied. But, as brief as they may be, the bonds formed over the torture of forced interactive learning have a way of transcending any predetermined social boundaries. This is an ode to the fleeting friendships that are formed in the Tuesday afternoon lull of a 2pm seminar.

Prepared Paula

As a mature-aged student, her genuine interest for the class content is completely unrivalled. Always early and always with all of the preparation in print, she’s ready for anything, and loves to let the seminar leader know as much. Don’t worry, she will not hesitate to speak loudly and clearly about anything that she does not understand, either. Despite this, she is a great conversationalist, and the mid-class break turns out to be just the right amount of time to hear about the weekend cricketing successes of her youngest, Tommy.

Stoner Stephen

Not quite sure what subject this is, but very proficient in the art of conjuring answers when called upon by seminar leaders. He’ll bring a super nice Macbook to class but likely let it sit unopened on his desk, in favour of staring vacantly into space. While he won’t talk to you unprompted, and is apprehensive to make eye contact for more than a second and a half, if you happen to run into him in at the West Oak in the early hours of a Friday morning, this man will embrace you like you are his closest and most valued friend in the entire world who he has not seen in years.

Trendy Tayla

She’s stupidly fashionable. There’s no way she hasn’t got a social media following more substantive than the collective attendance of the law school. It is extremely unclear how she can look ready for a modelling shoot after hurriedly climbing three flights of stairs to scoot from the Braggs to Liggy in a matter of minutes, but somehow, she does, and had time to grab a coffee from St. Raph’s on the way (in a keep cup, too!). She seems to have everything in the world to say about trimesters, lawyer x, and how it’s so completely shit that Groovin the Moo has been canned, but just don’t ask her about her seminar answers, she might start crying.

MANDATORY SEMINAR CLASS EDITION

Mandatory seminars really are a unique experience. They draw students out from where they lay comfortably in the inner folds of their couch, illuminated by the glow of their computer screen and comforted s by the resounding lull of Echo360 and throw them into the bright backroom of an asbestos-filled building. Put together, the class is often a hodgepodge mix of characters from genres so disparate there is serious deliberation as to how the same degree is being studied. But, as brief as they may be, the bonds formed over the torture of forced interactive learning have a way of transcending any predetermined social boundaries. This is an ode to the fleeting

Sweaty Sam

He is a chronic wearer of graphic tees with references to TV series’ a minute proportion of the population understands. He spends most of the seminar trying to convince those around him that he totally hasn’t spent 6 hours preparing for the seminar, and the other portion of the seminar trying to subtly demonstrate to the teacher that he most definitely has. Far too invested in politics to be able to trivially joke about the state of affairs, he turns out to be a fantastic listener to your legitimate political concerns. Also, he knows the course outline better than the teacher and can absolutely run you by everything involved in the next assignment.

Dropout Danni

The sort of person that enjoys telling the class a little about herself. She’s definitely done the pre-reading and is completely cool if you have a quick peep at her notes. She’s on her third degree, works two jobs, has travelled the world twice over and is like, totally down to do coke with you (if you’re, like, into that, man.) She seems really dedicated to working on your group project all the way up until week 4, when she stops coming to class, never to be seen again. Six months later you catch word that she has moved to Melbourne and is studying French.