Everyone has a favorite professor. Be it the one that has no attendance requirement and rarely shows up or the one who doesn?t care if you sleep through class?we all have professors that we would like to take a class from again. But those professors aren?t the ones that leave their students with a lasting impact.

The best professors are the ones that encourage thought in their students and push them to go further in their studies. Those are the professors that everyone needs to have because they are the ones that foster intellectual development.

These professors are what make going to college challenging and exciting. Without them, college would be an extension of high school, only with more alcohol. They also have the power to change the direction of their students? lives. This is what happened to me, for I was fortunate enough to have a professor with the uncanny ability to relate to his students and still teach them something.

For me, that professor is Brian Roberts from the History Department. His classes (I have taken three) have all pushed me to achieve more than I ever thought I could before. They improved my writing skills and inspired me to challenge my own beliefs. These are the types of classes?and professors?that all students should have in college. These are the professors that make a difference.

Over the past year and a half I have encouraged students to take classes from Roberts and professors like him. But now, I will no longer have the opportunity to do so?Brian Roberts is leaving after this semester. He has accepted a position at the University of Northern Iowa.

Not only do I see this as a disaster in my pursuit of a History degree, but also it?s a huge loss for this university. Roberts is a rare breed?capable of teaching a difficult subject and still keeping the students interested through his dry wit?and will be sorely missed.

Don?t get me wrong, I have had my fair share of awesome professors in both the Government and History Departments, but I have never been able to relate to a professor as much as I have with Professor Roberts. And I see that bonding is a key in gaining an education from this, or any university.

Building bonds with your professors is a must if you want to gain the most from your degree. Simply put, a degree is a piece of paper??it doesn?t say that you have learned anything, it only tells people you passed your classes. By building lasting relationships with those that teach you and push you to new heights, you will learn much more than if you just go to class.

Professor Roberts will be missed, but the ability to bond with your professors isn?t lost with his departure.

Brendan D. Wonnacott is a Government & History major and is opinion editor of The State Hornet. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].