20 Questions with Jane Barrager

1. What was your first job? 
   Waitressing at a Coney Island. I was 14 and lied about my age.
2. If you were to write a personal memoir, what would you name it?
   “What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been”
3. Where did you grow up?
   Metro Detroit.
4. What is your favorite class you’ve taught?
   All of them. I have always enjoyed teaching.
5. What is your favorite place to grab dinner in Tallahassee?
   Any place in which I have not cooked the food. I hate cooking. 🙁
6. What are your hobbies outside of work?
   Hobbies? What is this word “hobbies”? I like to practice Yoga. Is this a hobby?
7. Have you always wanted to teach?
   I never knew I wanted to teach, but I was always doing it and I was always good at it. My first “gig” was in the front yard of my childhood home where I taught summer school to all the younger kids in my neighborhood. In most every job I’ve ever had I was designated as the official trainer.
8. What is your favorite place you’ve traveled to or where would you like to go?
   There is no place I wouldn’t like to travel to. Bucharest, Romania was probably the coolest place I’ve been to so far, though. There’s also a certain island off the coast of Honduras that I’m not sure I’d come back from if I went there again.
9. How many football games have you attended?
   I’m not much of a fan anymore, but when I was a student here I took advantage of the free tickets and went to most of the games.
10. Proudest career/life moment?
    Life moments:
    — The day I gave birth to my son.
    — The day I moved to Florida.
    Professionally:
    — Canvas. ‘nuf said. You’re welcome.
11. What’s your favorite band?
    Seriously? Is there anyone here that doesn’t know the answer to this? Why do you think they keep me way upstairs in the back corner where no one can hear the loud jams coming from my office? 🙂
12. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
    “You can’t win if you don’t play.”
13. If money were no object, how would you spend your days?
    On a beach somewhere.
14. What is your favorite book and why?
    I don’t have a favorite. I’ve never met a book I didn’t like.
15. If you could be famous for something, what would it be?
    Singing and/or playing the piano. I can’t do either of these things, mind you, but you asked.
16. What Jeopardy category could you clear, no problem?
    History of the Internet; Classic Rock Radio; Medical Terminology.
17. Do you have any pets? 
    Yes, I have three cats and am well on my way to realizing my lifelong dream of becoming the crazy cat lady on the corner.
18. When did you start working at Florida State University?
    It depends on your definition of “work”. Paid work? About 1997, I think.
19. What was the last movie you saw in theaters?
    Joy. The inspiring story of woman who never, ever gave up.
20. What is the best part about your job?
    My students. They rock! Every time I think that I’m too tired to do this anymore, some former student shows up and tells me how I changed their life. There is absolutely no better feeling in the world than hearing this.