Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The one where Hez failed

Okay, here's the thing. I'm good at school. It's what I do best. I'm a good writer and when worse comes to worse I can bullshit just about anything and still get a decent mark.

I don't fail.

I can count the number of times I have failed on less than one hand. A 45% on a French test in Gr. 7. I'm pretty sure I failed my final exam in Ancient Greek in first year, but I still consider it a success since I didn't throw up and I passed the class. It is likely that I failed one or more Latin test this summer. (Notice that I kind of suck at languages?)

That's it. I graduated high school with Honours. I've been on the Dean's List, I've gotten scholarships. My grades are good enough that I got into every grad school I applied for.

I was supposed to take Canadian History first year. It's a requirement for a journalism degree. But I hate Canadian History and was pretty sure I would eventually drop journalism. Well, I didn't. So I planned to take Canadian History last summer. The one summer that Carleton didn't offer it. I was left with only one choice: Athabasca University.

Athabasca is an online university. I paid them $1400 for six credits (equivalent to one full credit in my system). They sent me a billion text books. I left things to the last minute, as I usually do. I ended up writing four essays and two exams in three weeks. On the first course I got 85% on both essays and a 70% on the exam. Not great, but whatever. I wasn't looking for much. On the second course I got 65% on both essays (had to rewrite one..) and.... a 38% on the exam.

38%?! I was shocked. I had studied. Granted, I hadn't slept and I had written another exam right before it. But... I answered all the questions! In essay form!

So I had to take the exam again. Two weeks ago, I once again killed myself studying for this exam, trying to absorb Canadian history as best I could from a textbook.

This time, I got 37%. Seriously?!?! I can't get my head around it, and I've wanted to cry ever since I found out. I don't fail things.

I'm appealing the mark. And I'm praying to WHATEVER IS LISTENING - I just need 50%. I just need to pass.

I can't even be mad right now, because I'm so desperate.

If I don't pass this, I will not be able to graduate in June. And I have no idea what happens then.

Please please please please please.

3 comments:

Court said...

That's BS!! Clearly someone at Athabasca can't do math. Grrr! Happy thoughts and good mark vibes are coming from me...

Fae said...

I'm wishing and hoping and praying hard for you too, love. I can't wrap my mind around it either. you're one of the smartest people I've ever met, and I can't ever see you failing.

I relaly really REALLY am hoping that this works out fine....

I love you so much. I'd be devestated for you. I'm more concerned with this right now (in fact, I was talking about it at dinner last night and Sean was ALSO shocked when I told him) than the fact that I may once again have to spend months job searching.

(in a moment of bad humor, my word verification for this comment is "faill". Nice, blogger. Real nice.)

Christine Sweeton said...

This has been a totally rediculous experience for you, that you completely don't deserve. I'm sure it will get sorted out. I not only wish you good marks on the appeal but that the appeal shows those in authority what a crackpot this prof seems to be and then they fire them, so this can't happen to other talented students. Hope this gets sorted out soon so you can stop stressing!