“I am a freshman majoring in biology at the University of Tennessee. I attended your lecture as a part of my first-year studies class, and it was quite astonishing. Some of the points you made really changed my perspective about taking classes that are “required” for my major. I had never really thought about it the way you presented it last Thursday, so thank you so much for leading me to realize I shouldn’t take classes because I have to but rather because I want to. I also want to thank you for the book that was given to me. I dove into reading it over the weekend, and I probably would have never come across if it weren’t for you. I hope you will do a lecture for the first-year students to come to UTK because I feel it is something that all college freshmen should hear.”
“Thank you so much for hosting that lovely lecture and discussion about Jhumpa Lahiri’s story in connection with our lives as beginning college students. I loved how you switched in and out of the story, including anecdotes from others to help us gain a better understanding. The part that stuck out to me the most was your point about finding the intersection between a career that puts food on the table, and a career that you love and enjoy. As I applied to college and now that I’m here I have been focused on what career will bring in the most money, not what I will actually enjoy. Seeing your love and excitement for your profession, along with every other person I have interacted with, has shown me that happiness is just as, if not more, important. I now want to strive to find a career where I can place happiness at the forefront, and have the money be a supporting factor. Overall, I loved the program! Thank you!”
“I often find myself completing assignments for the sake of the grade rather than truly pushing myself to create work I’m proud of. However, your words resonated deeply, and I’ve been actively challenging myself this past week. Just this morning, I had my first critique where I felt genuinely proud of the work I shared with my class. Thank you, Dr. Seshagiri, for your thoughtful insights. They have already made a meaningful difference in my approach, and I’m sure many others feel the same.”
“As you closed you left us with the anecdote “I needed words to go forward”. It resonated with me. In my toughest times, I turned to literature for comfort and writing as an outlet. If I didn’t understand something, I would absorb information until I did. Words are our primary form of communication. Even if every printed book in the world was burned, or every article online was destroyed, we still have our words. There is something beautiful about the eternity of the mind and thought. While ideas are ever changing, the concept of the idea remains.”
