<p>Apparently my physics prof has brain cancer and has <1 year to live.
What should I do?
It's not like I'm any good at physics.
And it's not like his lectures are worth going to either. =/</p>
<p>Whoa, holy ****, that's a kick in the face. You're such a grateful student. What is he doing still teaching if he only has one more year before he kicks the bucket. That says a lot about his personality, and his desire to teach kids. Try not to be too disrespectful to him</p>
<p>I guess you could stay after and ask him questions for anything you don't understand or read the textbook.</p>
<p>Are you a human being?</p>
<p>Read the textbook. Learn physics in your free time and maybe try to get to know a dying man instead ... no doubt he could probably teach you something about life...</p>
<p>^^no doubt that he could teach you something about life, but honestly, the "reading the textbook" is A LOT harder said than done. so quit saying that crap, it's meaningless.</p>
<p>My Ap bio teacher has cancer too, she was in the hospital today..we have subs like 1-2 times a week, and I feel so bad for her, because she's a fantastic teacher and really tries her best to help us learn.</p>
<p>Why are you going to Caltech if you don't like physics? Is it because the people there can appreciate your 12 ascensions on NetHack?</p>
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maybe try to get to know a dying man instead
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<p>Yeah, with 250 students (maybe 60 of whom actually come to class), it's easier said than done.</p>
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Why are you going to Caltech if you don't like physics?
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<p>I only realized I didn't like physics once Goodstein started teaching me.
His lectures are horribly incomprehensible. But that's probably because he has cancer. :(</p>
<p>A win-win situation is to get some one-on-one time with her before and after school/lunch/study period, and ask her questions, and maybe cheer her up and try to make him happy or something along the way.</p>
<p>Well, since you realized you don't like physics, maybe its time to reorganize your choice of schools? </p>
<p>But seriously you're kinda messed up if you care more about your grade when your teacher is dying of brain cancer.</p>
<p>this is a good college app essay topic</p>
<p>Well actually, I'm on pass-fail, so I don't care that much about my grade. :p
I was just trying to parody the other</a> thread.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of getting him a "get-well-soon" card, but it'd be quite embarrassing if he turned out not to have cancer after all.</p>
<p>Is this some kind of sick idea of a joke?
My best friend has lung and brain cancer, and obviously is dying. What broke her heart was having to leave her job as a psychoanalyist because she loved helping people.
No, when people have a disease that obviously is going to kill them, a get well card is like a slap in the face.
Kindness, listening to them, receiving gratefully whatever teachings they can give you about life and other things is the best thing to do -- if you care about them.
If not, just drop the class and move on or get a tutor or do lots of independent study and be grateful that you're not facing the challenge that your prof is.</p>
<p>See, we figured he might appreciate a giant card. Or a giant stuffed monkey, or a nice cake. Or some other way of saying "sure, nobody comes to your classes anymore, but you're still an awesome guy!" (Actually, I think the cancer is the only reason half my friends come to his class.) It'd probably be disguised as an overly elaborate Christmas gift, rather than a "this is your last year on earth" gift. (Deathday cakes are kinda awkward.) Guess the card's not such a good idea.</p>
<p>But I've never been around a dying person. So I don't really know. =/</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>Go into the parents section and read "Support for Late To School." She's a brilliant woman who's just been diagnosed with lung cancer (never smoked). See how the parents treat someone among them who is fighting that battle. It might help you see things from your teacher's perspective a bit better, and give you new ways to think about people who are in real trouble with their health, yet fighting on and continuing to work while they receive medical treatment.</p>
<p>You are probably unfamiliar with end-of-life issues and that's made you shut down emotionally here. It's just another thing to learn about. You can do this, and you'll probably feel better about yourself around the teacher, too.</p>
<p>Some kids have terminal illness in their homes growing up; others are spared that until they get older; you're just in the second group. It doesn't mean you're nasty, just underinformed for the time being until you read more. Check out that thread in Parents, "Support for Late To School"</p>
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[quote]
See, we figured he might appreciate a giant card. Or a giant stuffed monkey, or a nice cake. Or some other way of saying "sure, nobody comes to your classes anymore, but you're still an awesome guy!" (Actually, I think the cancer is the only reason half my friends come to his class.) It'd probably be disguised as an overly elaborate Christmas gift, rather than a "this is your last year on earth" gift. (Deathday cakes are kinda awkward.) Guess the card's not such a good idea.</p>
<p>But I've never been around a dying person. So I don't really know. =/</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!
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<p>What the hell are you smoking, fizix? This is the crudest post I've ever read in my life. Like someone else said, are you even a human being? This guy is freaking DYING and you're joking about deathday cakes? Seriously, you don't know much about life, do you? I don't think I was this insensitive or naive when I was playing pattycake in preschool.</p>
<p>.. Is this a joke? If it is, it's NOT funny.</p>
<p>^I agree, the OP is a tool.</p>
<p>I think it's funny.</p>
<p>I don't see what's so offensive...</p>
<p>But as always, we must organize a lynch mob!</p>
<p>Seriously.</p>
<p>...Yeah, I'm with the group of people that doesn't exactly see what's so offensive.</p>
<p>Seriously. My physics teacher is dying of brain cancer, and I wanted to get him stuff to make him feel better. What's wrong with that? Because several people in my alley wanted to also. Someone please explain it to me before we do something stupid =/</p>
<p>paying3tuitions: thanks for the reference, i'll look into it.</p>