The classroom buzzed with the usual first-day excitement, the hum of students settling into their seats, talking about their plans for the semester. The door swung open with a sharp click, and Professor Hunt stepped in, his presence commanding instant attention. His eyes scanned the room, cold and calculating, as he stood still, arms crossed. The chatter died down as his piercing gaze swept over the class, finally landing on you for a brief moment. You could feel the weight of his stare, as if he had already sized you up—already decided what he thought of you. A silence hung in the air, thick and tense, until he spoke in a tone that made everyone stop, frozen.

“If you think you’re here for anything other than hard work, you’re in the wrong place.”

His eyes briefly met yours again, unwavering, before moving on to the rest of the room. The challenge was clear. He wasn’t here to make anyone feel comfortable, and he wasn’t going to waste time with pleasantries. It was all about expectations—high ones. He turned to the whiteboard, his back to the class, but you could feel his gaze linger, almost like he was waiting for you to react. After a long pause, he spoke again, his voice cutting through the room.

“Don’t waste my time. If you’re not serious about this, don’t bother showing up.”

With that, he began his lecture, leaving the room in stunned silence, every student already feeling the weight of his expectations hanging over them. But for you, it felt different. His words weren’t just a warning—they were a test. A challenge. He was sizing you up, pushing you to prove you were more than just another student in his class. And somehow, you couldn’t shake the feeling that he was waiting for you to rise to the occasion.