I am 34. I am earning my Bachelors in Civil Engineering. I began school back in 1996. All night school while working full time.
I have switched school 4 times. I am now in the home stretch. Just 4 more classes after this semester and I am done!
I am taking a Philosophy class this semester. The past 4 years have been filled with engineering courses. I thought this would be a nice break. D’oh!
Spring of 1999 I took a drawing class (love to draw/paint) and a literature class. I spent easily 20 hours a week on that drawing class. I spent another 12+ hours a week on that literature class (a ton of reading).
Know what? I loved it! I felt so damn productive.
So this Philosophy class… the Prof. assigns a lot of reading. We must right something for every other page we read. Ok.
The first 3 weeks, I was singled out to read what I wrote. That felt good.
Now week four, I get my papers back and they weren’t even graded! I mean, there was no crease at the staple, no sign at all that the papers were read. WTF?!
So I sit here, having read my assignment. I did all my required writing, too. I just feel Mundanely and Pointlessly annoyed that my hard work is brushed aside. Come on, Professor! At least OPEN my pages! Grrr…
My first rule in college was to figure out what the professor was actually going to grade, and only do that. In your case, you probably got a grade for turning something in.
Teachers seem to be of the persuasion that doing the homework helps on the tests. Yet, in every class I’ve ever been allowed not to turn in homework, and just take tests, I’ve gotten an A. I wish those that required it would just let me decide whether I need to do it. And if I misjudge, why do they care?
You’re going to school to be educated! It’s not in vain. Congratulate yourself on making sure you’re learning something — and that you’re getting your money’s worth on your edumacation.
Well, he read my papers this week and again asked me to share with the class what I wrote.
That feels good.
Funny, I am studying engineering, have worked as an engineer (just a CAD guy these days in a different field, but like it), but have always found literature and art classes to fulfill me in a way that science does not.
I wanted to pursue art school so many years ago when I started college. I remember my advisor frowning on that, and saying that everyone needs a hobby too.
I wish I could step back in time 13 years and redo it all. Civil engineering used to be fun; getting to shape the earth and design roadways and infrastructure that best met the limits of the site was something great. I specialized in campground design and enjoyed the freedoms available versus laying out subdivisions.
I have no idea where I am going with this, other than to say it is Mundane and Pointless. But I feel good that my writing brought my teacher pleasure.
