Everyday Skills, Friday 2nd Period

[thefearwasreal]

Ever the picture of professionalism, Oz sat with his feet up on the desk reading the latest SkyMall magazine as he waited for his class to finish arriving, there was probably something in there he could use in a future class.

"There you all are," he said when he finally put the magazine down. "Morning all, for those of you I haven't seen before, I'm Oz, and I assure you that any story you may have heard about me are complete exaggerations. Well, maybe not all of them. Anyway, this class is Everyday Skills, and like the description on the sign up forms said I consider this class to be a life skills primer, covering some of the basics that everyone should know, you know, the kind of things that you'll need even after you've graduated, so we'll be covering a range of topics, like cooking, forgery, job interviews, bomb diffusion, sewing and mending, safe-cracking, to name a few."

Oz had a slightly different definition of life skills to most people.

"Now, I'm sure you're all sick of introductions by this point, but one of the most important skills you can have is to make a good first impression, so we're still going to do them, I want your names, classes, and one example of what you think an everyday skill is, whether you have it or not."

"Also I need a TA so if you think you're up for it come and see me after class."

[Have at it.]

Comments

Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

"I'm Oz, I'm a teacher, I think people managing is a valuable everyday skill. Your turn."

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[twintuitionist.livejournal.com]

The nice thing about only having two classes was that Juliet actually wasn't sick of introductions yet. She smiled as she spoke.

"Hi, I'm Juliet, I'm a junior, and I think knowing what colors and styles make you look your best is an important everyday skill."

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

Oz nodded. He was a man who made sure his outfits co-ordinated after all. "But where would you rank it on a scale of one to ten?"

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[zetabetabrat.livejournal.com]

Rebecca stood up and gave a little wave. "Hi, I'm Rebecca Logan," she said. "I'm a junior, and one important skill is..." Well, people management, but she didn't actually intend to be quite so upfront about that in front of a room of people she might want to manage. "Making connections."

There. That sounded nice and neutral.

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

"Exactly," he agreed. "Nepotism and the old boys network gets them every time."

What, like he was going to let it stay neutral?

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[lockestheway]

"I'm Peter Wiggin, I'm a sophomore, and I believe convincing people is a valuable everyday skill," he said idly.

Not too complicated, but whatever - just because he admired Oz's teaching methods didn't mean he was going to spill his life's secrets in here.

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

Oz didn't expect him to there were more fun ways of trying to find out after all, but that wasn't going to stop him poking for a detail or two. "People make careers out of it. Question is what are you going to convince them of?"

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

"I'm Hanna Marin, I'm a junior, and one valuable skill is paying attention to minor details. You never know what could be important."

How else was she going to get to know her frenemies?

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

"It's also useful if one of your employees gets replaced by an evil cyborg duplicate, and you have to pick which one to shoot."

Not that that had ever happened to Oz. Yet. But he was prepared for that day.

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[likethestore.livejournal.com]

K-Mart thought for a moment. "I'm K-Mart, I'm a senior, and I think being able to read people is a valuable everyday skill."

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

"Read people as in body language or as in..." he made a gesture at his temple. It never hurt to check, and both were useful.

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

"I'm Stephanie Brown, I'm a junior, and . . ." Stephanie tapped a finger against her lips. "I think being able to notice little, tiny details is an important everyday skill."

There! That was vague enough, right?

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

Vague and also a good answer! Two for two. "Where do you think that might come in handy? I've already used evil cyborg duplicates as an example."

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Forgery?!"

Sorry, Oz. Rilla was a LOOOOOT a little sheltered. "That's illegal!"

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[thefearwasreal]

"Which is why you need to learn who to spot them, and some things you only learn by doing."

Plus it was fun.

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[wheeler-360.livejournal.com]

When his turn came up, Marshall sat up a little taller in his chair. "Uh, hi, I'm Marshall Wheeler," he introduced himself. "I'm a senior, and one valuable everyday skill is basic math."

It's entirely possible that Marshall's definition of basic math isn't most people's.

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[i-am-the-rat.livejournal.com]

"Hank Venture, Junior. I mean, I'm Hank Venture, and I'm in the Junior class. I'm not 'Hank Venture, Jr.', because that would just be kinda weird. Uh..."

He thought for a moment. "And an important everyday skill is: DRIVING!"

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[shestheworst.livejournal.com]

"Britta Perry," she said, lifting her chin almost defiantly. "Junior. And I believe that an important valuable everyday skill is literacy, a skill that thousands of children the world over aren't allowed because they live in a third world that's being crushed by the lingering effects of imperialism and the greed of capitalism! And not only just children, but there are hundreds of people in this supposedly first world country that can't even sign their own names, forcing them to have to depend on the so-called educated masses to make their decision for them. So mark this down if you can, the power of language is freedom!"

She'd smacked her hands down on the desk in front of her for emphasis, and a small smirk slipped onto her expression. How's that for a first impression? She tried to fight it down as she looked over her classmates, imploring them to either take up the cause or challenge her on that.

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[notagoose]

"Shane Gooseman," Goose said, "I'm a sophomore and knowing how to make use of your surroundings is an important everyday skill,"

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[harpy-daughter.livejournal.com]

"Surreal, I'm a...sophomore?" The word was still strange to her, as evidenced by her mild accent on the pronunciation, and meant nothing to her. "And I think listening to people is a valuable skill."

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[tripledmyself.livejournal.com]

"Nathan Young, senior and a valuable everyday skill?" Nathan thought about it and smiled before saying, "Chatting up pretty girls, mate!"

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[therewaslife]

"I'm Bod and I'm a senior," he said, nodding at the teacher. "I think a valuable everyday skill is keeping an open mind even when presented with topics that you disagree with."

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Rapunzel blinked and frowned thoughtfully.

"I'm Rapunzel. I'm a... um..." She had to think for a moment. "Junior?"

"And... baking is pretty important! It lets you make people happy!" Because everyone loved cookies!

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[glacial_queen]

"I'm Karla, a junior and for a skill..." Well, Craft was her first answer, but it wasn't applicable to everyone so... "Defending yourself," she decided. "Physically, mentally, emotionally, or even socially."

Re: Introductions - ES [01]

[richieryan.livejournal.com]

"Richie Ryan, junior, and talking your way out of trouble is a valuable everyday skill." Not that he'd totally mastered it, but it did work on occasion.