Sitting in orientation for law school, Dr. Ronald Pitcock realized he had made a “bad decision.”

Instead, Pitcock opted for a master’s degree in English and a doctorate degree in English and American literature.

“It was a decision that many people told me was a bad decision,” Pitcock, who is a professor in the John V. Roach Honors College, said. “I knew myself well enough to know that it was right.”

He talked about his experiences Wednesday evening as he kicked off the Last Lecture Series. Pitcock is among four professors nominated by the senior class to give speeches meant to help seniors transition into life after graduation.

“Dr. Pitcock is my favorite professor at TCU. He is one of my biggest role models as a man, and I was genuinely interested to hear a lecture from him,” Burton Cowles, a senior entrepreneurial management major, said. Cowles was one of the seniors who nominated Pitcock.

Dr. Jacqueline Lambiase, interim director of the school of strategic communication will talk on Feb. 18 about “Falling Off the Ladder and Finding Success After Graduation.”

“In class, you feel like you can’t really talk about these things as easily,” Lambiase said. “How nice to have a full 40 minutes to just talk about it.”

With more than 80 people in attendance, it was standing room only in the Brown-Lupton University Union’s Chambers Wednesday night. The crowd wasn’t limited to seniors though.

“These professors were chosen because students do love them,” Chuck Dunning, director of senior transitions of the Student Development Services, said.

The third session will feature Dr. Vanessa Bouche of AddRan College of Liberal Arts. On March 19, Bouche will speak on “Is Feminism Still Relevant for Wo(men)?”

Dr. Andrew Fort, a professor in the Department of Religion, will close the series on April 9 with “What Is Mental Migration, and Why Should I Do It?”

“This is a rare opportunity,” Dunning said. “I’m hopeful that students will recognize that.”