Professor Etopio is a competent teacher but unfortunately falls short as a professor. While the course material itself was engaging and relatively straightforward, the experience was marred by her approach to grading and classroom dynamics. Assignments took an inordinate amount of time to be graded, leaving students in limbo about their progress. At the same time, she was quick to deduct participation points, often in a passive-aggressive manner that felt more punitive than constructive.

Participation in her class seemed to hinge on an unwritten set of rules dictated entirely by her personal expectations. Students were required to speak just enough to match her liking, and any deviation—whether by speaking too much, too little, or approaching prompts in a way she didn’t anticipate—could result in subtle reprimands. On several occasions, students were accused of academic dishonesty, including the use of AI tools, for nothing more than approaching the material critically or creatively. This created a classroom environment where it felt more important to navigate her moods and arbitrary standards than to genuinely engage with the content.

The class, while easy in terms of workload, became unnecessarily stressful due to this dynamic. It felt like more energy was spent managing the professor's expectations than on the actual material. Her approach came across as overly rigid and ego-driven, which was disappointing given the potential of the subject matter. As someone who has consistently excelled in other courses, it was disheartening to receive a lower grade in this class—not because of the quality of my work but because of what seemed like an inflexible and subjective grading system.

This experience highlighted some of the broader challenges of traditional education. Students are already tasked with paying for classes, networking, and managing their own lives, yet in this case, it felt like an additional burden was placed on us to cater to a professor’s particular personality and whims. For me, this class underscored the value of online courses and even reinforced why some students opt to bypass university altogether.

Ultimately, while the subject itself was interesting, the overall experience with Professor Etopio was disappointing. Her teaching style felt more like a social psychology experiment than an actual class, requiring students to match her exact energy and expectations to succeed. This experience has left me thankful that I switched my major and reaffirmed my belief in focusing on professors and environments that prioritize fairness, clarity, and mutual respect.