The last few days have been so chalk-full of goodness that I have been too busy to take time and write a meaningful blog post. Visitors. Traveling. Lecturing. Reading. Long runs. The good, albeit busy, life. When life gets busy, I think its a perfect time to take a step back and appreciate something simple…
Recently I gave a lecture at Viterbo University’s Humanities Symposium. I hope to write more about it soon, but for now, suffice it to say I was feeling young. The other speakers were tenured professors who reminisced about being in college during Vietnam. Self-conscious, I was second guessing the decision to wear knee high boots and a black dress. I felt too old for the students to be impressed and too young for the professors to take me seriously.
Then, as I am driving from the hotel to the symposium with the only other woman lecturer, she says, “Hey, I just wanted to let you know you look great. Your friends aren’t hear to tell you, and someone needed to.” Just out of the blue, and she put me at ease.
Today I am grateful for the way that women can immediately connect like that and for the courage it takes to compliment a stranger.
2 responses to “These Boots Were Made for Lecturing”
Hi Katie,
I am a professor at Viterbo. My students attended your lecture because it happened to fall during our class and I wanted to be able to be there. Today in class, they were all very impressed with your experience. To hear the experience of a young person is inspiring and definitely gave the students a thirst to go out and see the world. Thank you for being with us. I hope we were able to make you feel at home with us!
Emily Dykman
Religious Studies and Philosophy
Although you may think otherwise, I just wanted to let you know that you did make an impression on at least one of us out in that audience at Viterbo (and I’m sure many more would agree with me!). I was very intrigued by the story of cross-cultural friendship that you shared. It really inspired me to continue pursuing additional opportunities to travel abroad. Kudos to you not only for having the courage to travel to an unfamiliar country, but also for being brave enough to stand up in front of a large group of strangers to share your story. I only hope that one day I will be daring enough to do the same!