“A Bug’s Life” is a movie that brings adults back to their childhood memory lane. A Doc’s life is all about the strategic teaching style used by Professor of Sociology Alan Mock, better known on campus as Doc Mock. 

Mock’s main Ph. D is in sociology, although over the recent years he has found himself teaching a similar major: psychology. His teaching strategy differs from the norms because “Life Lessons” are utilized instead of “Class Lessons.” 

Because of Mock’s impressive ability to juggle his obligations, he also makes time for his personal hobbies like playing guitar, mountain climbing and traveling around the world. Mock’s incorporation of these hobbies into class lessons help students soak in the information. 

Life teachers are people who do more than just teach a class and the course; they also include life lessons that help students make better decisions. Mock accomplishes this by sharing memorable memories and applying his hobbies in class. 

Mock grew up in North Manchester, Ind., the usual small town living with the unusual quirk of a big town spirit. He explained that is was most likely due to the college centering the town: Manchester University. He recalled Martin Luther King Jr. speaking on campus two months prior to his assassination during a racial tensioned 60s. The same college in which his father held the position as the campus pastor. 

The college connected the North Manchester population of 6,500 people. Another institution that brought the community together was the North Manchester Church of Brethren, he added. 

Laughing from reminiscing his childhood, Mock explained of his easygoing attitude towards life as he grew up. He noticed social cliques and groupings in high school and realized their lack of importance‒eventually turning him to joining the Church Youth Group. 

Growing up, Mock noticed different societal phenomena that lead to his “sociologist thinking,” adding on that social studies came easier to him because that was how his mind worked. Teaching sociology and psychology comes with ease because of these experiences that help students understand lessons. 

Mock sometimes teaches a class period by bringing his guitar and transforming the classroom into a concert. The impacts, of course, are more pronounced than just simply stating the class lesson. In a sociology class, this style of teaching is especially helpful. 

 Inspiration for Mock’s “Life Lessons” also stems from his shared experiences: climbing mountains with his brother and traveling around the world with his wife. 

 He shared the beauty of climbing the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal with his brother, making sure to not leave out the details of experiencing it in a new culture, country, and even continent. This allows Mock to better tell class lessons through his own life experiences. 

 Mock mentioned that currently, due to lack of physical readiness, traveling with his wife is more convenient. Sharing the differences of culture within other states, countries and continents are what make the experiences worth for Mock.  

 The very same experiences, he tells students to thrive for because they only come once in a lifetime.