Friday, September 12, 2008

Lessons Learned in School

Lesson the First

The Background:  I’m currently taking a class called Relaxation Techniques.  The TA for this class is a 22-year-old Sports Psychology major.  He’s pretty, athletic, amiable – your typical jock.  I like him, but 22-year-old me would’ve written him off without a second thought.

The Setup:  At the beginning of each Relaxation Techniques class, my fellow students and I line up outside of the Mat Closet.  The closet contains (you guessed it!) gym mats for us to stretch out on while we practice relaxing.  TA Dude stands in the closet to hand out the mats, which come in two colors: pink and blue.

The Story:  I don’t see the point in jockeying for front of the mat line (we don’t start relaxing until everyone has hir mat and TA Dude locks the closet anyway), so this past Wednesday I brought up the rear.  I watched as TA Dude, holding a pink mat in one hand, went out of his way to reach blue mats for the two guys ahead of me.  When I presented myself at the closet, sure enough, TA Dude handed over the pretty pink mat.

Why did TA Dude ferret out blue mats for the young men, only to dish out good ol’ Pinky when I showed up?  I’ll give you two reasons, and each one rhymes with n00b.

Four years ago this event would’ve set me fuming.  I can practically hear my younger self’s inner monologue: Why do I get the pink mat?!  Because I’m a chick?  I don’t want a pink mat!  I hate pink!  Those guys got blue mats!  Was that pink mat going to make their balls shrivel up and disappear?  Fuck that!  I’ll make their balls disappear and I don’t need a girly color to do it!

But four years will teach you a lot, including the importance of picking your battles.  Will that mat make me break out in a severe case of pinkness poisoning?  Of course not, and it’s really not worth a second thought.  On Wednesday I accepted my pink mat with nothing more than a rueful smile.  I also accepted that TA Dude conforms to gender stereotyping norms, and I only felt the tiniest bit of dismay.

The Point:  So.  Today.  I’m in my usual spot at the back, watching the students ahead of me get their mats.  Just like on Wednesday, there are several guys in line before me.  TA Dude grins and speaks a few words to each of them as they approach.  I can’t hear what he says but I can guess: “here ya go man,” “there’s yours,” “one for you,” etc.  Now I’m almost to the closet, there’s just one guy ahead of me.  TA Dude has a pink mat in his hand and I know exactly what’s coming.

And then he gives it to the guy.  The guy in front of me.  TA Dude smiles and tells the guy, “You get the pink mat today.”  And when I’m up I get a blue one.  Grinning crazily, I thank TA Dude and proceed to the most relaxing class I’ve had yet.

The Lesson:  Anyone (and I do mean anyone) can surprise you.  The sorority girl is a lesbian.  The frat boy plays D&D.  The Republican is pro-choice.  The hippie never does drugs.  Sometimes people surprise you in the best ways possible.  That happened to me today, and I can’t think of the last time being wrong felt so good.

2 comments:

Dork Farm Woman said...

That is a pleasant surprise. you are also breaking stereotypes about feminists when you choose to pick your battles - a sense of humor and perspective are often lacking (or are expected to be) from us liberal chicks.

and in your self-description, does the album I Miss BTVS cross from borderline music nerd into the other categories? It is a perfect meld and I'm very fond of the Lipstick Wiccans song...

Unknown said...

This rules. Thanks.