little miss know it all ... doesn't

[katekat]

Last night I received the worst news I've gotten academically since I got my first 'F' in math in highschool. I got a 62% on my native plants test. I thought I had brains. Apparently, those brains do not show up for native plants tests. Perhaps they've left the building.



After I found out I went through all the phases.

How could it be true? How could I get such a low grade on a test? It couldn't be me. It couldn't possibly be true.

Maybe I'd accidentally filled out the wrong bubbles on the scantron. I needed to get my hands on the test and find out what kind of a conspiracy I was embroiled in. Had someone switched the tests? Were they, perhaps, involved in a vast skewing of the class gpa for some nefarious purpose of their own? I had to find out. And I figured, when I found out, that I'd get them for it. Somehow, some way, I'd get my revenge. Or maybe I could swap for extra credit?

Unfortunately, all my conspiracy theories were annihilated in one fell swoop of a red professorial pen. No one had manipulated my answers, no one had accidentally filled in extra holes in the scantron. No one was to blame but me. I'd assumed too much (and yes, i know, i know what the word implies), I'd gotten cocky, and now I'm paying for it.

My solem vow today: never take the easy classes for granted, because apparantly they will turn on you if you don't watch them. Learn to mistrust the overconfidence for the sham that it is. Next time, I won't believe I know it until I know it letter perfect. Next time, I won't believe he's going to be easy on us just because he speaks with a bit of a drawl and makes funny jokes in class. I should've known the jokes were just to knock us off our guards.

Comments

[lawyergirl15.livejournal.com]

Poor you! That really suckes. Having the wind knocked out of one's sails is never fun.

In high school, I had to take composition (yuck) and my first paper, I got it back. We got two grades on everything, content/grammar. So, I couldn't tell if I got two C+s or two A+s because of his writing. Naturally, I assumed they were A+s because I just did not get Cs. When I went to ask him, he looked at me like I was the lowest life form to ooze out of a swamp, and said (in this horribly condescending tone of voice, and in an english accent when he wasn't from england) "No, Kimberly (which no one called me), those are C+s, which were quite deserved."

Prick. I spent the rest of the semester trying to figure out a way to send him back to the mental institution (from which he had recently been released).

[katekat]

which were quite deserved

ugh. that's just horrible. I particularly loathe that type of teacher, since they're not teachers at all. I personally believe there's some karmic hell waiting for them. Perhaps, in that one's case, the mental institution?

[dara-starscream.livejournal.com]

Sixty-two? Yowch. That must've hurt.

(pets your ego) Okay. Now you know better. Ace next test, and make professor get up and do a little dance. I could also insert a quick Anywhere But Here involving Professor Giles correcting his favorite student, but I don't know if that would improve your mood or not.
-BJ

[katekat]

awww! ok, i know, it's probably good for the ego to be toned down a little bit. it was kinda getting ahead of itself. although i thought linguistics was going to do that, not native plants.

and the offer of the Prof Giles is so sweet - but ABH's confuse me (i think i have problems with my non-subjectivity reading them). the thought is terribly appreciated though.

[dara-starscream.livejournal.com]

Phew; the stuff involved really isn't suitable for at-work composition, especially given how tired I am.

It's early enough in the semester (I think) it's not an average breaker. (gives you big hug and fudge covered cheesecake) Don't sweat it. You rule anyway.
-BJ

[katekat]

are you streaching yourself too thin? *hands you a weekend of good sleep* (if only it were that easy!)

and yeah, it is. as long as i work my ass off i'll be ok...

and for a second the hug & fudge covered cheesecake merged together and was very ... dirty ... but i think that's just my eyes blurring. :D

[psychoadept.livejournal.com]

for a second the hug & fudge covered cheesecake merged together and was very ... dirty

I had that problem too. Found myself imagining getting covered in chocolate cheese cake. But maybe that's because I ate some today.

[phendog.livejournal.com]

*hug* Well, here's hoping the rest goes well. I've had a few bad tests...the adrenaline panic is killer. Oh, well...life goes on!

[katekat]

thanks! it was the after-shock that was the killer. hopefully i'll be cool, calm and well rested for the next one (and well studied, since apparantly, that will help too)

[psychoadept.livejournal.com]

*hug* That sucks! Not you, the grade. You rock.

[rant] I hate grades. I hate them because people like you can work their butts off and have very little to show for it, while people like me can get away with never cracking a book. And I gotta say I have a lot more respect for the people like you. I wish I knew how to make it easier for you, because it's seriously not fair. The system is so skewed, and... Grr! You *should* be able to take the easy classes for granted, and put your efforts into the things you really care about.[/rant]

[katekat]

actually, i used to be one of the people who didn't crack a book. not so much now, though. probably too many drugs and too old to learn (although, shhhh, don't tell anyone!)

i hate grades too, which is why the first time around i went to a proper college where they didn't do grades, they gave evaluations, and where the world made sense. a test doesn't actually measure how much you know and can apply anyway. but, sigh, this time, it's a totally different kettle of fish. i'll just have to get used to it. the only ray of sunshine on this whole thing is the linguistics test, which i thought i was actually going to bomb, becuase i'd stopped studying for it, i got a b. so, it could be worse.