Do I Meet The Grade?

Finals week here I come!

My writing teacher, Sandy is so innovative. I swear she is one of the best teachers I have ever had. She pushes us (the students) to such levels that we never thought we could go, oh and enjoy it as well. :-)  I would like to say in my opinion that is what makes a great teacher!

So beyond that, as a final for her class, she wanted us to write a short argument essay on why we deserve a certain grade.  I struggled with this for a minute, I had hopes of getting it done on Friday, yet here I am on Monday just finishing it.  I really do have a hard time arguing about a grade that I feel is earned not an entitlement.  So with that said I really thought about what I felt was enough to earn an A, since that is the grade that I wanted, and I came up with this...

“Crystal will NEVER make it to college, she just doesn't apply herself.” That is something that I have heard from the majority of my family, and most teachers that ever taught me. Because I heard this so often while growing up, I began to really believe it. I am from a family of 8, not including my mom and dad, and being the youngest is not the easiest task. Only two other siblings graduated High School and one other graduated college. In my heart, I knew that I was destined to be helping people, and the only way I really could think of was to be in the medical field. The only problem that I was facing was the lack of confidence I had in myself to make it to med school. It’s not as if I didn't have feel that I had the brains, I knew that I had been blessed with an extraordinary brain (not trying to sound conceited), the issue I has was I was lazy! I would try in school for small amounts at a time, but would always think to myself “why do this, it’s not like you will graduate from college.” I really didn’t feel that I had any potential.

Hard Work Pays Off!

I never realized the potential I had until I went back to college in the summer of 2012. I learned that it was possible that I could achieve great grades, and thoroughly enjoy learning.  I really cannot explain the amount of excitement and feeling of accomplishment when I received my first college grades.  I had an A in every one of my classes, and couldn't believe it! Due to the fact that I am unable to get any financial aid, I decided that school was too expensive to just not do great in it, so I realized that studying hard, and working hard meant doing great in school.  I feel that I deserve, well earned, an A because, not only do I  apply myself to the fullest, I come to class no matter what is going on in my life, I complete every assignment on time, and I continue to learn and reach for perfection.  

I never realized what a feat it is to just get up and come to class, until this term. There were so many days where the class only had 10 students in it. I realize that there are things going on in life and that coming to class may seem difficult. Well, I too had some things going on this term; still I attended class because as I see it, this is a core issue of respect. “Respect for your own endeavors, respect for your parents, and respect for your professors, who are just trying to do their jobs (Barangan).” I feel that this is really dependent on how seriously a student takes their education.  I may not know other’s personal issues, but I know that mine were not warranting me missing class. There was one day that I missed, due to a doctor appointment, and I felt completely lost. I don’t like knowing that I could have possibly been absent on a day that I could have learned something crucial and that could help my writing ability. Because I pay for my own education I feel that at a certain point, as a student, I need to ask myself why I am paying top dollar to attend an educational institution if I am not going to take advantage of the fellow students and professors in my academic setting. To me it is more of an opportunity, and it would be a damned shame if I don't take advantage of it.

Coming to class is not the only thing a student must do in order to earn an A.  In order for the professors to see a students’ progress, there has to be some sort of scale in which to base it on (Larson). That is where homework, projects, papers, and tests come in.  I understand that one student can work fifty times harder than another and still receive a lesser grade, but that may just mean that they aren't grasping the current concept.  I like to think that if I was having an issue with putting out what I think is quality ‘A’ deserving papers, yet getting ‘B’s,’ I would be able to speak to my teacher and have him/her explain to me what issue I may be having; therefore I can resolve it by the next assignment.  Another thing that I feel should be common knowledge in earning an ‘A’, is the importance of completing these assignments on time.  Every single one of my assignments has been completed on time. I did have some issues with inputting the URL’s into the inbox for my writing class, but thank heavens for communication. I was able to email my professor on every occasion, and I knew that she will take it into consideration. I am not notoriously a person who turns in assignments late, and I know that she knows that.  I work really hard on my work, try to soak in and apply every bit of knowledge that I have learned, and continue to yearn for more knowledge.

There are times that I start to get confident on my writing, feeling that I know all, and THAT is when I learn something new.  I would like to consider myself a humble person for the most part, yet when I start to get overly cocky, I get put back into place by a teacher or a student, not for nothing, but I really do need those once in a while.  It shows me that there is so much more for me to learn and makes me want to continue.  Sandy, my writing teacher is going back to school, I believe for her second or third master, and that in itself is humbling to know. The fact that she continues to learn, even though she seems like she knows all, she shows me that if I continue to be hungry for education I may someday reach perfection. Well not perfection but dang close to it.  

All in all, I have really worked hard this term, I have thrived on the education that I am receiving. With that, I have shown that all of my hard work is worth an upstanding grade. I will never be the type of student that just comes to school, slacks off, turns in mediocre assignments, and expect a decent grade. Grades, in my opinion are earned; I truly feel that I have earned an A!

Well after writing this, I really feel like I need to get back to my other classes, I have 2 more finals to tackle! Wish me luck!

Works Cited

Barangan, Zack. "Should Attendance in Class Affect College Students' Grades?" Unigo. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. <http://www.unigo.com/articles/should_attendance_in_class_affect_college_students%E2%80%99_grades%5E63/>.

Larson, Melissa. "Dear Professor, Dear Student..." BYU. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. <http://ctl.byu.edu/dp/?cat=8>.