On a more positive note, the class also encourages us to develop our self-esteem and self-confidence by actually bringing out that confidence from within. In one memorable session, we had to report on a specific incident from our life that was a defining moment. Mine was (and probably the only major defining moment in my life so far) is my first year college experience.

Oh, and another thing...this thing was great opportunity to practice our presentation and speaking skills in front of a respectable audience. Public speaking, dude!

When it was my turn I spoke to everyone (who mind you, are all working professionals at least in their early 30's, so I was an odd one out in terms of class participant) about how UChicago was my dream college and that I had lots of great expectations but my first initial experience when I got there fell short of all those things. It turned out to be quite funny too because, well, that's what usually happens when you retell something that later becomes an anecdote.

So basically, the summer before college I was very apprehensive (nah!) about the Great Experience (that has yet to come). No, that is not what had happened. What happened was that I had a fight with Mom and generally for the whole summer we weren't on good terms, in an adolescent kind of way. Probably out of spite (not really) that was probably the final little nudge that made her make the decision so she told me that she wasn't going to send me off to Chicago and help me settle down in college.

I went with my Dad instead. Needless to say, my Dad didn't help me in the same way as my Mom could have (i.e., Dad scores kind of low when it comes to domestic/housekeeping things).

Your memorable experience actually says a lot about you as a person.