Thank $DEITY That’s Over

 General  Comments Off on Thank $DEITY That’s Over
Feb 242011
 

Did my oral presentation in class today. I’ve been dreading that since I first saw it on the syllabus.

I’m not the only one who wanted to get it over with. We started doing them Tuesday, and every time she asked “Who’s next?” half the class would raise their hand. So I wasn’t able to get it over with on Tuesday, and continued dreading it for two more days.

Tuesday night I actually had a nightmare about it. I dreamed I finished the stupid thing, then went over to get my grade. I got a -10. I had completely misunderstood the requirements of the assignment, to the point that it would have been better not to do it at all.

At least it’s over with now. There are still a few people who have to do it on Tuesday. And it’s fairly unlikely that I got a grade below zero.

P.S. Ping Rotund—I know you’re on the northern island and Christchurch is a good distance away, but answer your damn e-mail anyway just to set my mind at ease, ‘kay?

Too Many Thoughts

 Geek Wannabe  Comments Off on Too Many Thoughts
Feb 092011
 

My Western Civ II class had its first test last Thursday. Haven’t gotten it back yet, she says she’s still grading them. It was all essay, so I imagine she is.

She tells us the material from here on out will be a little easier. Hope so.

She also says that of the tests she’s graded so far, most have been short on detail—a flaw which loses points in history tests, as I learned last semester in Western Civ I.

But I really came to tell you about the whole test-taking experience last Thursday.

We’re all required to supply our own Blue Books. Not a problem; the campus bookstore sells them for something like a quarter apiece.

Before the exam, our instructions were to place our blank Blue Books in a pile on the instructor’s desk, turn off all our cell phones, and pile our bookbags and whatnot in the front of the room. Once she’d collected all the Blue Books, we trooped back up and took them from the pile in more-or-less random order. This was all to prevent cheating; apparently in the past she’s had students write surreptitious notes in their Blue Books ahead of time. Then she passed out the tests and we all fell to scribbling madly.

One fellow brought up his completed test after only twenty minutes or so. I figure he either did really well, or really poorly. I’m guessing… poorly.

As the end of the class time neared, people began turning in their tests and collecting their bookbags. The teacher would thank them as they handed in their tests.

I wasn’t quite the last one to turn mine in. She didn’t say anything as I handed her my test. I gathered up my binder and my purse and left. This procedure took maybe five or six seconds, during which time the following was going through my head:

Rational Brain: The class is almost over, she’s probably just thinking about what she’ll be doing once she leaves, or what to have for dinner, or something.

Irrational, Everything-Is-About-Me Brain: She didn’t thank me, but she thanked everybody else—does she not like me for some reason? Did I do something? I’m always on time, I only missed one class so far. Is it because I sometimes answer without raising my hand? Everybody else does that, too, why would she pick on me? Am I giving off some sort of vibe she doesn’t like? Was something wrong with my homework assignment? Why would she not like me?

And then I was out the door, and my brain was chasing off after the next shiny notion that wandered through.

My husband is right. I have too many thoughts.

Today in Class

 General  Comments Off on Today in Class
Jan 252011
 

We all filed in to the history class, took off coats, got out pencils and paper, settled in.

Our teacher walked in, put down her notes, sat down in her chair, and said “Now… do we have a test today?”

For about ten seconds you could have heard a pin drop. Class full of deer-in-headlight stares.

Who would have thought such a sweet-looking little lady would have such a sadistic laugh.

(No, the test is next week.)

Bear