your morning class was small, littered with disinterested kids, yourself being the only one engaging and listening to the lecture. you sat at a group of desks near the front, with the rest of the kids sitting in the back on their phones. the lecture felt less like a lesson, but more of a one-sided conversation between you and your professor. you could see he took note of your engagement, making eye contact with you whenever he looked back, visibly appreciative of you.