(I am tutoring a student in basic drawing. This particular student has a very high opinion of himself and has been constantly interjecting that this school is wasting his time and not teaching things the way he needs to be learning them.)

Student: “Okay, look, I’m not complaining, okay? I’m just saying, this drawing stuff is a waste of my time and energy. I have a full-time job and a social life and I don’t have time to draw every day. I just want to learn [3D modeling software]!”

Me: “Well, drawing it is how you first learn to interpret the world as we truly see it and not how your brain reduces it down into symbols.”

Student: “But, look, if you wanted me to model this, I could. But I’ll NEVER have to DRAW anything in the field I want to get into.”

Me: “I guarantee you will. Besides, it will be your job to learn to take a 2D drawing or concept and make it 3D and understanding the drawing is the first step.”

Student: “Look, I know you care a lot about this, but it’s bull-s***. You obviously haven’t been in [this field of art] or you’d know that.”

(One of our instructors is walking by with a couple of people. He walks into the room.)

Instructor: “Excuse me, what is your name?”

Student: “Uh.. it’s [Name]. How can I help you?”

Instructor: “Oh, well, we were walking by and heard your conversation. [CEO of major company in the students’ field] and [Art Director for same company] want to know who you were so they could be sure never to hire you.”

(He then turned to me and calmly introduced me to the two gentlemen with them and asked me to give them my business card. I’m expecting to start work with their company as soon as I graduate!)

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(I tutor students for the SAT (Verbal), History, English, and Spanish.)

Parent: “Excuse me; are you my child’s tutor?”

My Boss: “No, your child will be working with [My Name]. She currently has a student, so please wait downstairs with [child].”

Parent: “Hmph. I’m paying so I think my child deserves a fair share.”

(I finish with my student and I go downstairs to greet the parent and my student. All goes well until…)

Parent: “Wait, you’re the one who tutors Spanish? You’re a cracker; you can’t speak Spanish!”

Me: “With all due respect, I can, in fact, speak Spanish. I happen to be better at reading and writing, but I’m not terrible.”

Parent: “Ugh! You couldn’t speak Spanish if you wanted to learn from Dora!”

Me: “Mira, tu hijo/a ya está esperando. Ahora, [Child’s Name] va a perder más tiempo con mi. No tenemos tiempo para tonterías. He pasado un año en España, enseñando ingles a niños en un colegio. Mi vida diaria era más española. ¿Y ahora, me dices que no puedo aprender español? ¡Vaya tela!”

(Translation: Look, your child is waiting. Now, your child will lose more time with me. We don’t have time for foolishness. I lived for a year in Spain teaching English as a second language to children in school. My daily life was Spanish. And now, you’re telling me I can’t learn Spanish? I can’t take it anymore!)

Parent: “I… um… well, that’s not fair! She’s a [White slur] and knows another language!”

My Boss: *to the parent* “Just leave. You’ve done enough damage for the day. Thank you and goodbye.”

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(I’m tutoring a group of students that is often disruptive. The youngest one is 11, the eldest 16. I’m male and often wear makeup because I’ve never really seen myself as one gender or another.)

Student #1: “Um, can I ask you a question? It’s sort of personal.”

Me: “Sure, go ahead. We’ve known each other a few months now.”

Student #1: “Well, you see…um…”

(The student slides me a piece of paper with ‘gay?’ written on it.)

Me: *laughing a bit* “Oh, this is because of the makeup, isn’t it?”

(By now, the other students have caught on what’s happening.)

Student #1: “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you!”

Me: “Look, you didn’t offend me. Being gay isn’t something to be ashamed of, and besides—”

Student #2: “So you ARE gay then? I knew it!”

Me: “Nope. I have a girlfriend.”

Student #1: “So you’re straight?”

Me: “Nope. I would date anyone if they were the right personality. It just happens to be a woman.”

Student #2: “So you’re not gay or straight? You’re sure?”

Me: “Pretty much. I guess you could say bisexual if you wanted to.”

Student #2: “Well that’s not fair.”

Me: “Wait, how so?”

Student #2: “If you’d been gay, she would have lost a bet to me.” *points at Student #1* “If you were gay, I would have won. This way, nobody wins except you, and that’s why it’s not fair. You should just give us both ten euros to make up for being a bad sport.”

(They asked me a few more questions relating to gender identity and such but were very polite about it. The whole experience was quite encouraging to me, as I was only beginning to be more public about who I am. Having several people at once be quite accepting and good-humoured about it was a great confidence boost.)

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(In music, “pianissimo” means “very quiet”. It is abbreviated as “PP” on sheet music and scores. Currently, I am teaching a student who always pounds the keys, no matter what dynamic level is indicated.)

Student: “Oh no! This has PP!”

Me: “Yep, it’s a quiet piece.”

Student: “I hate PP! It’s too hard to do. I can’t do PP!”

Me: “Sounds like a personal problem to me, buddy…”

(In music, “pianissimo” means “very quiet”. It is abbreviated as “PP” on sheet music and scores. Currently, I am teaching a student who always pounds the keys, no matter what dynamic level is indicated.)

Student: “Oh no! This has PP!”

Me: “Yep, it’s a quiet piece.”

Student: “I hate PP! It’s too hard to do. I can’t do PP!”

Me: “Sounds like a personal problem to me, buddy…”