I am totally a front-rower — could possibly stem from being nearsighted in elememtary school, but persisted way after I got contact lenses. I think I just didn’t want to miss anything. Good prep for being a journalist when you have to elbow your way to the front.
Or perhaps the early experiences sitting front row shaped how you engage with the world? Love how this post elicited some fun and interesting comments!
Front-rower here … unless: Math. Then hide me far far away. Seriously, I was too easily distracted by things going on around me to risk the back row. (Each frown, ponytail flip, dropped pencil led me down a line of thought that had nothing to do with the lesson on the chalkboard.) The back row: that's a place for a far stronger person than me.
My problem was the distraction of thinking that other people behind me were noticing (and judging) my pony tail flip, dropped pencil, “wrong” outfit, you name it!
Interesting premise. Middle rower that I am. Desperately shy and terrified to talk in class when I was young (no longer shy now - but still a middle-rower) I found the middle the best place to hide, the safest escape. To me, the back row people were making a statement. They were the back rowers. Us, insecure indecisive middle-rowers were buffered on all sides, and that seemed like the safest place for me.
Love to hear this POV! As a former teacher, I sit in the front row 🙋♀️ At workout classes too. I am not afraid of being wrong (that’s the point of instruction, right? To be given feedback?) and I empathize with the teacher. I facilitated so many discussions where I relied on the contributions and role of front seaters. So I gift that to vulnerability to teachers who I know may value that. I wonder how many front seaters are, or were, teachers!
Lis, you also win the empathy award- and bravery for being ok to be wrong. Interesting question - yes, poor teachers, I can see how grateful they are for front rowers!
I’m a middle-rower, an extroverted introvert, and I was definitely hiding in plain sight in my cognition class when the professor was looking for people to chime in who weren’t front rowers. I was terrified when he called on me. How did he know my name?? And I mumbled a wrong answer. Alas, I didn’t know I’m a visual learner so lectures were lost on me!
Ooo you gave me the idea for two more rabbit holes to go down - if there’s a connection between introversion and creativity - and between visual learning and creativity !
Love this piece Tracey. After years of wishing I were a front-rower, I'm finally embracing my back-row nature. It's kinda like that documentary "20 Feet from Stardom" - I'm SO good with singing backup lol!
At 5'1 and a tad, I'm a front row person for obvious reasons (especially in art history class, where seeing the screen was integral to knowing what the hell was going on). But you made me think. Yes, the front row also suits my fairly outgoing personality... Did it get me better grades? Who knows. But I still like to sit in the front row of any event, thus experiencing it unfiltered/blocked. Lots to chew on...Thanks!
I was a mostly a middlerower and definitely back rower if I thought there'd be fireworks in ConLaw- so I could see it all. Never front row, but I do like circle-seating - go figure. But what this essay brings to mind are two memorable back-row memories: (1) a some of us detested a particularly obnoxious front-rower and as she made her way to her seat, one of the back-benchers would commence the "dunt da, dunt da, dunt da" theme from "Jaws"; (2) another back-bencher would recite the entire Vegamatic commercial (those of a certain age know whereof I speak) under his breath when he got bored. And, if I was bored too, I actually appreciated it.
You'd probably guess I was a front-rower like Jan, but for me, it was situational. In Math class, back row, trying to hide. In English and History, jumping right in, well-prepared, and excited to be there. Barbara might have made fun of me, nerd that I was...still am...
I am totally a front-rower — could possibly stem from being nearsighted in elememtary school, but persisted way after I got contact lenses. I think I just didn’t want to miss anything. Good prep for being a journalist when you have to elbow your way to the front.
Or perhaps the early experiences sitting front row shaped how you engage with the world? Love how this post elicited some fun and interesting comments!
it is a creative new kind of Rorschach test!
Front-rower here … unless: Math. Then hide me far far away. Seriously, I was too easily distracted by things going on around me to risk the back row. (Each frown, ponytail flip, dropped pencil led me down a line of thought that had nothing to do with the lesson on the chalkboard.) The back row: that's a place for a far stronger person than me.
My problem was the distraction of thinking that other people behind me were noticing (and judging) my pony tail flip, dropped pencil, “wrong” outfit, you name it!
Interesting premise. Middle rower that I am. Desperately shy and terrified to talk in class when I was young (no longer shy now - but still a middle-rower) I found the middle the best place to hide, the safest escape. To me, the back row people were making a statement. They were the back rowers. Us, insecure indecisive middle-rowers were buffered on all sides, and that seemed like the safest place for me.
lol. Ok, I see that as a legitimate place to hide (joining you in the shy insecure please-oh-please-don’t-call-on-me camp!).
Love to hear this POV! As a former teacher, I sit in the front row 🙋♀️ At workout classes too. I am not afraid of being wrong (that’s the point of instruction, right? To be given feedback?) and I empathize with the teacher. I facilitated so many discussions where I relied on the contributions and role of front seaters. So I gift that to vulnerability to teachers who I know may value that. I wonder how many front seaters are, or were, teachers!
Lis, you also win the empathy award- and bravery for being ok to be wrong. Interesting question - yes, poor teachers, I can see how grateful they are for front rowers!
I’m a middle-rower, an extroverted introvert, and I was definitely hiding in plain sight in my cognition class when the professor was looking for people to chime in who weren’t front rowers. I was terrified when he called on me. How did he know my name?? And I mumbled a wrong answer. Alas, I didn’t know I’m a visual learner so lectures were lost on me!
Being called on is so scarring!
Ooo you gave me the idea for two more rabbit holes to go down - if there’s a connection between introversion and creativity - and between visual learning and creativity !
Love this piece Tracey. After years of wishing I were a front-rower, I'm finally embracing my back-row nature. It's kinda like that documentary "20 Feet from Stardom" - I'm SO good with singing backup lol!
I used to wish I had a front row personality too. Sort of. Or at least the confidence that seemed to go with it!
At 5'1 and a tad, I'm a front row person for obvious reasons (especially in art history class, where seeing the screen was integral to knowing what the hell was going on). But you made me think. Yes, the front row also suits my fairly outgoing personality... Did it get me better grades? Who knows. But I still like to sit in the front row of any event, thus experiencing it unfiltered/blocked. Lots to chew on...Thanks!
Or…did sitting in the front row contribute to developing your extroversion? Hmm…
And aroud and around we go:)
I was a mostly a middlerower and definitely back rower if I thought there'd be fireworks in ConLaw- so I could see it all. Never front row, but I do like circle-seating - go figure. But what this essay brings to mind are two memorable back-row memories: (1) a some of us detested a particularly obnoxious front-rower and as she made her way to her seat, one of the back-benchers would commence the "dunt da, dunt da, dunt da" theme from "Jaws"; (2) another back-bencher would recite the entire Vegamatic commercial (those of a certain age know whereof I speak) under his breath when he got bored. And, if I was bored too, I actually appreciated it.
I think I would have enjoyed sitting in the back row with the Jaws and Vegemite folks!
You'd probably guess I was a front-rower like Jan, but for me, it was situational. In Math class, back row, trying to hide. In English and History, jumping right in, well-prepared, and excited to be there. Barbara might have made fun of me, nerd that I was...still am...
Of course you were front row. Front and center, I bet. And we back - row types need you to keep us on track
I really did write that - "memorable back-row memories". Shoot me now . . . .
Hahaha!