He gave us our tests back today and I tried not to get my hopes up even though I felt fairly good about it. Well, the grading was divided among 4 sections at 25% each. The first section I received 90% correct, the second section 100%, the third... 0%, and the fourth 90%. Yeah, what?!? I asked him what he meant by 0% on that specific exercise (which involved math, no surprise I screwed it up) and he said yeaaaah that wasn't what I was looking for. Well, um, sir, could you give me partial credit here because I obviously set it up properly but didn't use the correct method for the final answer? Hmm... sorry, your grade is around a 75, but don't worry it's no big deal.
No big deal? I know these Italians aren't familiar with the American 0-100 grading system because they use 0-30 or something, but 75 is not acceptable! I studied so *%&@$*%^ hard for this test, you guys don't even understand. Obviously my %s in the other sections should somehow outweigh a dumb error in math! I got, well, upset to say the least. I believe I mentioned in an earlier post that I can be a bit... sensitive at times. Well I had to leave class and go to the bathroom. Once I closed the door I starting doing that ugly crying, you know the kind - rapid intake of breath, intermittent sobs, mascara running, all of it. Next thing I know there's a knock on the door and I have to try to explain my sorry state to Martina, one of the Student Services Coordinators.
back when studying gave me a reason to smile.
I went back to class attempting to retain my dignity. My classmates patted me on the back and passed me notes of encouragement, but I was just... mad. I can probably make it up with the final test, but ugggghhhhh this really sucks. Today sucks. I mean I've been out of the game for almost 2 years and the first grade I get in grad school is a C. I guess this means I have no future in accounting, ha.
Also let me mention that going to a small school has its many advantages, but when you're curled up in a ball on the floor of the bathroom sobbing like a baby about your bad Accounting grade, let's just say word travels fast. I went to find my advisor, the President of the University, and once I entered the waiting area the Registrar and his Executive Assistant both did the tilt-of-the-head + "heeeeeeeeeeey..." ugh, yes, I know you know. He wasn't there to listen to my rant, so I'm complaining to all of you. My apologies, but I refuse to be a C student; I simply refuse.
Someone remind me of something I can be thankful for today...
Amendment: I may have thoroughly upset myself for nothing, folks. Isn't that embarrassing? My teacher emailed me this evening and said he reevaluated the results of my exam (I didn't ask him to) and he's decided to give me partial credit, raising my grade to an 82. He said he found his penalization excessive and though he can't give me more credit, he regrets having graded the exam so severely. *whew!* Thanks to everyone for all the words of support and kindness, I definitely needed it today, but apparently the anxiety and melancholy was all for naught. The day seems to have turned around after all.
...a stepmother/friend that loves to shop for you? Seriously, though, there are a lot of us rooting you on and completely empathizing with you. (There's a reason, I switched majors from Marketing)
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Okay, you can be thankful for people who love you, and who will love you just as much whatever grade you make in Accounting. In fact, you can make a 'Z' (last letter in the alphabet, w-a-a-y lower than an 'F') on your test, and we will all still love you.
ReplyDeletePlus, you can be thankful that you are the kind of person who cares deeply about things, and who is able to cry when the situation calls for it. I know I am thankful that you are that kind of person.
And, you can be thankful you have people right there where you live who care about you, and who grow closer to you, when you share true emotions with them.
We love you.
Kristin and Landon in Austin
Ugh. That sort of thing has happened to me before, and it's a shock when you're as sensitive and smart *wink* as we are.
ReplyDeleteSure, it would've been nice to get partial credit - but you're being challenged, and that's a good thing. You can doooo itttt.
:O)
Love you. H
You should stop worrying about the one section you didn't do well on and celebrate the THREE other ones in which you excelled. From your earlier posts about how difficult Accounting is, I know this is an accomplishment. YOU GOT A's in 3 sections, don't worry about the one you didn't get, learn from it and do better next time.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we only look at the bad and forget what we've accomplished. A year ago today, you did not know what you wanted to do. Remember when we almost applied for Nursing school? AAAH! Since then, you took the GRE, applied to schools and for scholarships, got into the schools AND got scholarships and you're now in Italy working towards what you want. That's amazing! I'm so very proud of you. Chin up, lady, you're doing wonderfully. TVTB!
OK! As an accountant, I have a totally screwed up view of the world at times.............However, after doing this job for over 35 years, I can say that having a great personality and sense of humor can be much more valuable in life than an "A" is an accounting course. Plus, those attributes will usually get you farther. Don't let this get you down (for long). Bounce back and give someone else a hug that needs it.
ReplyDeleteRoy Shrode
Having read your amendment, I don't think the crying and emotion were all for naught. I think the professor's accountant's heart was touched by the depth of your caring, and took a step that was personally courageous for him--he re-evaluated his grading of your exam. Perhaps he learns something through this that positively impacts his behavior toward other students as well.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, it was moving to me to read all the expressions of support that came your way.
What a terrific journalist you are, Lauren B. You should seriously consider being a columnist and blow off accounting. As long as you can balance your checkbook, who cares about any higher level of math?
ReplyDelete