Thursday October 28, 2004

What a difference a week makes. Last Monday (October 18th), I got my philosophy midterm back. I cringed when I saw the grade of 74. To make matters worse, I had forgotten to write a paper for the class which was due that very day. I was sure, even if I was allowed to turn it in late, that I would be docked so many points that it would be near impossible to get a decent grade out of it. I was seriously considering dropping the class.

It turned out we were allowed to turn the papers in two days late (the next time the class met) with no deductions because the teacher acknowledged the fact that he had given us no reminders of the due date, and several others had forgotten all about their papers as well. I decided to stick it out and see how I faired. This week I got the paper back. I made an A. I should be sitting at a B now with 50% of the grades for the class now in the books.

In addition to that favorable turn of events, I noticed three chances for bonus points in this second half of the semester; each worth five points. That bonus fifteen points, when added to my less-than-stellar midterm, will get it right on the doorstep of an A and will surely bump me up to an A for the semester thus far. That leaves only one more paper and one more test to worry about (after I complete the bonus assignments).

That's quite a turnaround from last Monday's disaster. If I buckle down and actually listen and try to learn from the lectures this semester, repeat with a strong paper, and apply what I've learned well on the final, I could actually come away from this with an A. But I don't want to jinx it...

I had an eye exam yesterday. The doctor made me quite uncomfortable. He was very touchy-feely. He kept his hand on my knee for the entire exam. He even used it to grab onto and slide around the room in his chair (it had wheels). That probably puts most people at ease, him being that comfortable around you and all, but it didn't me. I just thought it was weird. Thankfully I won't see him for another two years.