Undergraduate Uses Big Academic Word In Front Of Her "Non-Educated" Family, Cousin Accuses Her Of Showing Off

"I didn't do it on purpose to look smarter"

Maryjane

• Published in Interesting
• January 14, 2024

The majority of us were taught the value of education as children but why is education important? You might have believed during your trying school years that it was a pointless endeavor or that it was only something you had to do to get employment.

However, the truth is that education is much more than just a means of securing employment and pleasing one's parents. It's actually among the most effective tools available.

The OP of today's story is the first person on her father's side to go to university. She is studying English and has done some networking co-ops, so she's assured a good job out of university.

The biology department offered an ornithology class, or the study of birds, for art students. The OP decided to swoop up a seat in the class because she loves birds.

At her family's reunion, OP's grandmother was asking her about her classes. The OP says she is the only one who seems genuinely interested. OP listed off her English classes and then told her about ornithology.

Her grandma learned how to say the word, but as she went to check on her garlic beans, OP's cousin glared at her while voicing his concerns. OP's cousin dropped out of high school, so he referred to her as Miss Fancy University, who is using words they can't understand.

Keep scrolling down to read the entire story for yourself below.

And the story kicks off

She looked at the OP weird and so she explained the word

Before the OP could say anything, her cousin walked away

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:

Using the word Ornithology in front of my family Because my family doesn't understand a lot of academic language.

Let's check out some of the most upvoted comments from other Redditors below

Grandma got a kick out of learning

It's not a commonly used word

He has no right to dictate to the OP

OP's grandma is so smart

The OP reveals more about her grandma

My Grandma grew up the extremely parentafied eldest daughter of 15. She never got the opportunity to go to university and I know she would have had loved to go. I told her about how, now that she's retired, the local university offers free tuition for seniors.

She said she might consider getting her GED and going to a few classes to learn more. The woman is 74 and the smartest and most compassionate person I know.

What the cousin is telling the OP

It's just one word that they can all learn

They're clearly intimidated by the OP

This Redditor believes the word is an ordinary word

When OP's grandmother inquired about her classes, she mentioned what she had learned and it does not seem improper at all. That her cousin, her grandma, or anybody else didn't understand what it meant isn't the OP's fault as all she was doing was talking about something unrelated to him.

Some Redditors say that it sounds like he was experiencing insecurity at the time, but it's not the OP's fault and is not something she should hold against herself.

Maryjane