interesting emails

As an instructor, I get interesting emails from students. Lots of them say they need help with a problem without telling me which problem, or wanting to know their grade without telling who they are. I have on occasion, though, gotten emails from people who say, "You don't know me but I would like to take your class, what and when are you teaching in future semesters."

Last week I think someone got a little confused on who I am and what I teach. This student was in my class over a year ago, but had to drop the course when her work schedule changed. The email started out simple enough, telling me who she was and that she wanted to try to take my class again and when am I teaching, etc. Here is the strange part. She then asked me for advice on her poetry and even included one of her poems for me to critique.

Did she forget she was in my math class before? Isn't that a little like asking your history teacher to help you in physics? It took me a day to figure out how to nicely respond to her and tell her that she was definitely asking the wrong person for help with poetry.