# Former student makes good! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093 "2025-06-02T03:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/1 "2025-06-02T03:15:17Z")
Today I learned that someone I taught as an undergraduate in a first year survey course years ago was just promoted to associate professor. We have kept in touch and it was a treat to learn this. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/2 "2025-06-02T03:51:42Z")
Good for the student and good for you! ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/3 "2025-06-02T07:30:04Z")
That is great news all round! ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/4 "2025-06-02T12:01:24Z")
Awesome! I image that’s of the most rewarding parts about teaching. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/5 "2025-06-02T12:47:38Z")
Are they professing in the same field that you taught them in? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/6 "2025-06-02T16:51:08Z")
No. He did his MA with me (History) then a PhD in a different field (Education). But his work is very historical, which is rare in his field and gives him a slightly different perspective. He likes to say the people in education think he’s a good historian and the people in history think he’s a good education scholar. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/7 "2025-06-02T16:52:25Z")
That and the fellow who tattooed “Cui bono?” on his neck after taking a course where that informed much of our work! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-student-makes-good/1019093/8 "2025-06-02T17:22:19Z")
Speaking as an educator, it’s probably good for folks in education to have a significant background in some other field.