Japanese final

[icarus]

All my grades have been screwed.

I got my Japanese final chapter test back. My worst fears are confirmed. An 87. The mistakes I made were primarily easy, mostly stress/panic.

I did my oral presentation today. Fucked it up because I just didn't have enough time to work on it and my confidence level was just not there. I had two other finals, plus I had to work this week. That's 15% of my grade.

The fact that it was embarrassing and humiliating was just the cherry on top. (I normally love oral presentations and am great at them.)

My Philosophy final last night, I think I did fine on the first half of the test. The final essay question... *shakes head.* Because Philosophy was backed right up to my work schedule I often had to turn in assignments late. So I got dinged on four out of fourteen written assignments. Maybe a B+. Maybe.

My Law class... should have been an easy A. But earlier in the quarter I had to miss classes to get the Philosophy homework done because there was no room in my schedule for it elsewhere. I intended to make up for it with the extra credit assignment, but never had time to do it. So that screwed up that grade. Maybe I have a B. The teacher said I did participate a lot, so that helps.

wildernessguru who's been here, watching how I use my time said, "This was the best you could have done. You've been run ragged honey, and you haven't had any time."

Compare this to last year, when I didn't have to work during school: straight A's.

All you guys who have your school paid for by your parents, or live in countries that provide free college... don't talk to me right now.

Comments

[chasethecat.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Ok, I also hate people with free college, but you're complaining about 'B's.

'B's.

Which, if I'm not mistaken, would be A's at my school, if that makes you feel any better. It doesn't make *me* feel any better, since you're getting better grades than me, and working, and writing hot fic, and I'm just lazy. But...sorry you're disappointed with the grades. It sucks knowing you could've done better, if only...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the hugs. *snuggles back* Ten bucks says you're not lazy, you just haven't added up the hidden demands on your time.

The Japanese class was hard. So. I don't feel too horrible there.

But the Law class was an easy A. It should have been. The law professor said first day of class, "I'm an easy A. If you get a low score on a test, I'll let you re-write it. Here's your extra credit assignment just in case you screw something up. Beyond this, all you have to is participate and be here every day for class."

It's like missing a free throw two inches from the basket.

Philosophy... I spent 14 years as a Buddhist nun. My entire life has been devoted to philosophical questions and debate. The teacher ran it at a fairly high level, but I'm used to that, and in fact this class philosophically was a lot less demanding than my Buddhist studies. I nailed the tests for good reason -- this is my former career, my field.

The only way I could screw it up is the way I did: I turned work in late.

Why? For both of these? Time. Just -- pressed to the wall.

So I hope you feel better. I tripped over a chalk line drawn on the floor. If these classes were math or economics or something else I suck at, heck, no complaints.

Icarus

[dejaspirit.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel any better, when I was in a position to hire people their work history (even retail or waitressing) was far more important to me then their grades. )

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

After 15 years in the workforce, I do know that. But my goal is to move on to the university, and so I need the good grades. UW generally assumes that grades from the community colleges are inflated, so my grades need to be top notch. There were a couple of scholarship programs that I need the 'resume' of stellar to get, so if these turn out to be too low, a lot of options get pulled out of reach for me.

Icarus

[aigooism.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I know your pain.

And which country pays for the college?!

[dryad-duinath.livejournal.com]

uhm. Norway generally does..

*hides*

[aigooism.livejournal.com]

o_O Well then Norway is one of the luckier ones! x-x;;

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Malta. Germany, if you pass the Arbitur and stand in line to go to college when space opens up... Norway, quite a few countries, actually.

Icarus

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

All you guys who have your school paid for by your parents, or live in countries that provide free college... don't talk to me right now.

How about us people who took out $35K in loans and had to endure sheer poverty for 4 years to pay it off?

Kiddo, you did freaking fine, and guess what? I am very proud of you.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

How about us people who took out $35K in loans and had to endure sheer poverty for 4 years to pay it off?

Yeah, that's not something I'm going to be able to do. I have no credit history, I've stayed out of the system, and now can't even get a Visa card.

Kiddo, you did freaking fine, and guess what? I am very proud of you.

I did the best that I could. But I know what I could have done if I weren't stretched so thin. I'll know for next quarter.

Icarus

[katuah]

i know how you feel. working thru school is a bitch. and even tho you are denigrating your efforts overall, what you are really saying is, the failure is not one of knowledge but of system- You know the material, you just don't have the time to do it justice, which is no fault of your own.

And this is simply one more part of The Whole Enchilada, how the elites stay elite while the rest of us fight for the leavings.

tell us again - what do you want to do with all this, in the end? the ideal? pardons for not having that in my memory...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

the failure is not one of knowledge but of system- You know the material, you just don't have the time to do it justice, which is no fault of your own.

Yes. Exactly. I know the quality and care I give my work when I have the time to put into it, and it really bothers me that I have to skimp.

*sigh*

Icarus

[emeraldjay.livejournal.com]

I empathise how you are feeling right now. I had to push myself through my first semester while working overnights. I fear that I will be in even worse shape for next semester since my workplace may not as obliging with my schedule.

Then to top it all, I heard my boyfriend tell our co-workers that I didn't even work for the A's I did get, just annoyed the H*** out of me. I got told I was an idiot for taking days off from work during my finals. At least The Guru saw that you did your best and told you as much.

Congratulations, you made it through a session with your mind mostly intact.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I heard my boyfriend tell our co-workers that I didn't even work for the A's I did get, just annoyed the H*** out of me.

Oh man. *stabs* That's just cruel. I take it you didn't attend a single class then, or read a single book, study, or take any tests.

Uh-hunh. Sure.

I got told I was an idiot for taking days off from work during my finals.

That's crazy. Finals are hell. It's like having a kid sick with relatives coming to town for the holidays and shopping/cooking for fifty people. You're just so damned busy.

I fear that I will be in even worse shape for next semester since my workplace may not as obliging with my schedule.

I had to leave one job because it just wasn't working out. They didn't want me to go, but I'd been a secretary for 15 years. I knew more secretarial work led to.. more secretarial work. College at least led somewhere.

Congratulations, you made it through a session with your mind mostly intact.

I hope you did, too. Sheesh.

Icarus