It’s that time in the school year where everything is coming to a close. Often I feel that professors are in cahoots as they plan that last exam, project, quiz, and extra credit essay. Finishing strong is well worth it especially when we have made it this far, pressing on, staying focused, and managing time well.
In the midst of all this, as students, we definitely get exhausted. When all the taxing projects wear us down as we attempt to accomplish them well and on time, it is truly entertaining when professors remind us to stay strong as they change the course because they can’t keep up with their own assignments. Yes, I completely understand them, the end of the school year carries an extra weight of exhaustion.
But my favorite part prof is the fact that you took out our last project and now our last quiz is gonna be worth 825 points. That’s awesome! Thank you so much. I don't believe it, you’re not able to give us a study guide, that’s ok. Oh, because it's only 2 questions, nice. But you’ll tell me what we need to study, awesome - All the PowerPoints from the whole semester, thanks. I appreciate the help.
Then there is the class day where you really have only one class that requires your attendance. So you drag yourself all the way to campus, in the rain, without an umbrella, because we can barely remember our names much less where we left that little sucker. Then the lovely little email, "Class I have decided to cancel lecture today, I know we were supposed to meet in 15 minutes, but we will just resume next week" - Really?! Awesome. Totally amazing, I didn't have anything better to do with my time anyway.
Even still the extra credit assignments; just make sure to read the fine print: this assignment is only good if the student grade is within 1.3758% of the next letter grade, has slept a minimum of 7.37 hours every night for the past 40 days, and if the assignment length reaches the 35-page minimum. Thanks professor! I really appreciate the opportunity for extra credit, but now that I have spent hours preparing this, I really appreciate you letting me know there were other requirements other than the page minimum. Now you are going to take 10% off my final grade, because I didn't meet the requirements for your extra credit assignment; COOL!
Lamenting some of the ridiculous things that happen toward the end of the school year is not, at any rate, a discredit of all the hard work put in by professors and students alike. It serves as a powerful reminder that we have almost made it to the end. We must work hard and focus on finishing the school year off strong and well.