Jul 02 2008
Message from a Student
I had a student this year in my AP Chemistry class who was very smart and, when he put the time in, was the best in the class. He chose to goof around most of the time and was getting a “C” in the class during the second semester. He felt he could be getting an “A” if he applied himself and did not want to ruin his GPA so he dropped out of the class with about 8 week to the end of the year.
I received an email from him today. He has his binder from class and he is keeping it in a special place as his motivation as he goes to college. Let me quote him on this, “to me, it symbolizes that I do have the potential to beat even the smartest students when I really study and put my mind to it. Yet, it is a class that also symbolizes the horrible effects of bad work ethic, poor decision making, and of course, laziness. Furthermore, AP Chemistry was one of the first classes that taught me there is no reason in blaming others for one’s problems, nor can one make excuses, especially when someone else in the same class is successful.”
Now how much chemistry did he learn? Who cares! I think he just did a LOT of growing up. He learned what he needs to do at college and in the future. I still think he learned some great chemistry, but at his point in his life, he will be a college freshman next year, I think the life lesson he got from it is much more important.
One response so far
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Hi, I had a very similar experience this year and was shocked to hear after the fact from one of the toughest students I’ve ever had all that he did learn! And most importantly, he learned skills about life, so he tells me, from listening to my off-topic commentary after class! In joking manner, I’d always say, these are pearls I’m giving you! And then, of course, laugh about it, but those are the moments he valued the most and feels like he’s learned about life in those very few moments not even focused on science. Hopefully he’ll carry things forward…he’s truly an exceptional mind and by the end of the year was beginning to see it.
That type of growth is more important to me than the academics many times.