At the end of last semester, I was devastated to learn that I did not get into Margie Dimopolin's Fiction 3 class. I was devastated because I knew that the Spring 2005 semester would be Margie's last. She had announced her retirement to my Fiction 2 class last fall. For days, I checked to see if anyone had dropped the class or if workshop maximum had been expanded so I could get into Fiction 3. Everyday I went home disappointed.
My friend, Krystel, suggested that I give 407 another shot during finals week in the fall. I sat down at a computer in the RB lab and prayed for the best. I clicked English and then 407 and hit the inquiry button. The server moved slowly. One seat available! The hand-eye coordination I used to add the class to my spring semester list was probably the fastest I've ever done. I was in.
Margie isn't just one of those people who teach a class to have a job. She is a writer herself. The knowledge and life experience that she passes on to her students is invaluable. During workshops, she's critical without being hurtful. She tries to bring out the good in a story as well as what doesn't work in order to make her students better writers. She stresses the difference between "regular" fiction and literary fiction. To her, a story is never completely finished. And as many writers and professors do, she stresses the importance of reading for aspiring writers.
Some professors talk only to students in the classroom and during office hours. Those interactions are usually only about the topic of that class. It is my belief that Margie Dimopolon (or "Prof D" as she signs her critiques) is more than just a lecturer on writing. She is a woman who shows compassion and care and supports her students. She's more than the lady who I hand my final story into and pray that she likes it because it's worth 60 percent of my grade.
Over the years that I've been in her classes (three total), I have come to realize that Margie also plays the part of friend to her students. A lot of people have stories about how Prof D has been a friend to them, how she cared about what was going on in their lives and not just what was going on in their writing. However, she's great at telling when your personal life has crossed over into your writing.
Last fall, I had my mandatory meeting for Fiction 2 with Margie. I was a few minutes late and apologized because I hate to be late to anything. I then told her that I had run from Ball Memorial because I had been sitting at the bedside of my grandfather, who had cancer. She said she'd put him on her prayer list and every class period after that, she asked how he was doing. When he died, she even lectured me on how I should have missed her class.
Let's raise our pens to Margie Dimopolon. Here's to you: the one who tells everyone of my famous ancestor (for those of you who don't know, it will make Margie happy if you know it's Poe), the one has put up with my being sick, missing class and random off-the-wall comments during class, such as, "Le Quack." She's one classy lady, and I think I can safely say that her students are far better off for having known her. I know I am. I know my Microsoft Word is a lot happier since I started taking her classes. It was worried about my voice, characterization and story structure for a while.
So, Prof D, graduate into your retirement. I'll still write like everything is worth at least 60 percent of my final grade. No, tell you what: I'll write like it's worth at least 80.
Write to Haley at
hbasberry@bsu.edu
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