These past couple of weeks with classes I have been frantically scribbling down notes and re-reading material, all in hopes of pulling off at least two A’s in 4 of my classes. A personal goal I set for myself that doesn’t seem too far-fetched and completely attainable.
One of these classes is business calculus. Although I studied myself into a crazy frenzy before the first test, I only managed to pull a 61. Not happy with myself, I vowed to do much better on the second test – which I took last Thursday. When I turned over my exam today and saw the bright red 86 in the upper right hand corner, I couldn’t help but whisper a ‘yes’ to myself and break out into a huge grin. And because 5 out of 8 people in my class failed the first test, the teacher has allowed a make-up exam. I take that next week. I’m hoping that I get better than the 61, but if I don’t we’re allowed to drop our lowest test grade. I’ll just have to make sure I do well on all the remaining tests.
In this class, I sit caddy corner to a tall, lanky fellow who, since the first day of class, irks me. (Wow, check out all those comma’s!) I couldn’t place my finger on what it was exactly, I just had a feeling about him and although I’m always friendly if he asks a question or forgets to bring a pencil – I try not to communicate with him unless necessary.
Today he asked what I made, proudly I stated an 86. He made an 82. Because of our seating arrangement, and because I tend to be nosy – I was glancing at his exam to see which problems he missed. The teacher goes over the exam, problem by problem so as to clear up any misunderstandings we may have about the work. Today was no different as he went through each problem. I noticed on a particular problem, this lanky fellow merely forgot to write whether the hypercritical numbers – if graphed- would be concave up or concave down. I thought to myself, I’m glad I remembered to study that part otherwise I would have forgot too. I almost felt sorry for him that so many points were taken off of his test because he simply forgot to draw an upside down arch.
But that feeling vanquished when at the end of that particular problem’s review, he told the teacher that he had exactly what was written but it was marked wrong on his exam. He did NOT have what was written, in fact, he just simply drew what was needed while the teacher’s back was turned. Now, normally, I would just tell myself that I must have saw wrong on his test – but I clearly remember feeling almost sorry for him.
I wanted to say something, I wanted to call him a liar in front of the class, I wanted to place a paper-cut in between each of his fingers, but I didn’t. I’m not saying that I’ve never sneaked a peek at someone else’s answer, but never have I cheated AFTER the exam. And the thing is, he passed the first test with a 90, and this second with an 82 (well an 86 now). It’s not like he was going to have to drop the class.
I was tempted to stay after class and talk to the teacher, but I just stared at the lanky boy, shook my head and walked out of the room. Should I have said something? Was it my place? Or will it eventually catch up with him in the end? Or maybe am I only angry because I studied for hours on end to remember to put that damn arch on the table and all he had to do was wait for the teacher to go over it after the fact?
I’m seriously considering bringing it to the teacher’s attention next class, but I hate to be a ‘tattle-tale’. I probably need to let it go, but right now – I’m just going to silently curse him to life of miserable loneliness.
77 foot waterfall we found when we took a 'scenic route'
So, today, I give to you my very first MS Paint experience.
