You are an expert to someone

This afternoon, I met with a group of about 15 international students. They are from Ghana, Lithuania, Sweden, Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Dominican Republic, Mali, and others. We will work together on a research project throughout the time I'm in Beijing. It will be driven by the students, most of them first or second semester Masters students, and guided by me. I'm so excited for this opportunity. It's so thrilling to be trusted with facilitating what, for many of them, will be their first research project.

After the class meeting, I talked briefly with a young man I mentioned in my previous post, my new friend Bill. He thanked me for the lecture and told me that it was very interesting. I responded that I hope it was helpful information and said, "I'm not an expert, but I have used these methods several times." Bill looked at me and said, very sincerely, "Professor Amy, you are an expert to us. We want to listen to you." I am certain that I turned shades of scarlet and thanked him profusely.

Thinking about this experience later, I thought about all the people I view as experts and what their information sharing and advice means to me. That's a powerful position--Expert. As I worked through memories of the teachers, friends, and family who I look up to, it hit me that each one of us is an expert to someone. Today, someone is looking up to you. You are the expert.

Cat on the third floor of my building. Community cat is a good kind of cat.