The butterfly effect is the idea that an event, no matter howsmall or insignificant it may seem, can have a dramatic effect onthe future.
The relationships between many students and professors at TheUniversity of Memphis seem to support this theory.
LaBarron Morgan changed majors after taking a class withprofessor Kenneth Goings.
"I was so enthused with the subject matter that I later finishedmy major in African- American studies," Morgan said.
Lee Campbell, freshman art major, changed her major fromelementary education to art because of a teacher.
"My intro to art teacher, Lillian Hedges, made me have a betterappreciation for art," Campbell said. "I loved art anyway, but itmade me love it more."
Professors also feel the repercussions of how their words inclass influence students onto different paths.
Don Baud, biology undergraduate adviser, has seen the positiveeffects he's had on his students by spurring their interest inbiology.
"I taught an endangered species class, and many of my studentswould write letters to their representatives about making changes,"Baud said.
Baud has had non-biology major students get very interested inbiology and want to change their major to it. He said thesestudents wish they had taken the class earlier in their collegecareers so changing majors would be more feasible.
"Students fear that biology is too boring or hard and wait untiltheir second or third year into their major to take it, and then itseems too late (to change)," Baud said.
Richard Peterson, associate professor of chemistry, has hadstudents change their major to chemistry because of his class.
"Quite often, I have had students that are not chemistry majors,perhaps pre-med, who decided chemistry was more relevant for them,"said Peterson.
Elementary through high school teachers have also had an impacton the future of their students.
"My high school chemistry teacher got off the subject in classone day, and it led me to think more about chemistry," saidPeterson. "He started talking about the (traces) of DDTinsecticides showing in ice-core samples in the Arctic."
Peterson didn't understand how this could happen, sparking aninterest that led him to a career in chemistry.
"I'm sure he never realized he influenced my life to such anextent," Peterson said.
Junior journalism major Nick Kraft had his eyes opened to howtest taking isn't always a bad thing by his first-gradeteacher.
"She taught us the perfect intelligence zigzag achievement test-- the PIZZA test -- and it was to see how much pizza you couldeat," Kraft said. "It taught me that not all tests aredifficult."
Undecided freshman Scott Carter was turned on to history by amiddle school teacher.
"My teacher definitely changed my opinion about history, and I'mthinking about becoming a history major," Carter said.
Like many U of M professors, history professor James Ficklereceives e-mail from students thanking him for the class andvaluable lessons he taught them.
"They send e-mail more than you'd expect," Fickle said.
Students realize when talking to their professors they are notjust teachers -- they are people, too.
"Professor Jack Grubaugh doesn't hold back when he's talking toyou -- he's very personal, it's talking with someone who reallycares," said Amin Zaki, senior biology major.
Undeclared junior Carson Garthright said he's gained a differentimpression of teachers now that he is in college.
"I see a teacher more as human being and not as an authoritativefigure," he said.
