DISASTER

My previous blog sounded so positive. I'm so sad the feeling had to end so quickly.

Today I found out I screwed things up majorly with my grades. Unfortunately I decided to use a grade scale which was not meant for any of the homeworks that my students turned in. Eight of them have inflated grades (2-3% and one has a 4% bonus). So, now we are faced with what to do. Give them the corrected scores (after they have already gotten their grades) or keep the wrong scores (which would give them an advantage over the rest of the class)? If it was up to me I would change the grades and simply tell them it was my screw up and that I'm really not taking any points away which they earned. I know they would be mad at me, but that's what they earned!

Unfortunately, its not all up to me. Which makes me feel like an idiot. Why didn't I pay attention? Every other day I am wishing more and more to just go work at In-N-Out. My biggest problem would be figuring out how to take the burger smell off my clothes at night.

"Welcome to In-N-Out. Can I take your order?"

The End of The Beginning

I am officially done with my first quarter (as I let out a sigh of relief). The last weeks where jammed with things to do:

1) Give a final presentation for my class
2) Grade Lab Reports
3) Enter all Grades for my students
4) Help my students review for their Final
5) Help make the Final for the class I'm teaching
6) Grade the Final for the class I'm teaching
7) Make presentation for Conference

Today I had to "practice" my presentation in front of the department, just so they could give me some insight on how I can make it better. They were far nicer than what I expected. Still, at the end I felt inadequate. Last week I found myself trying to find an alterior motive for being asked to run the scantrons during the grading session. I though, "They must think I'm too stupid to help grade the short answer questions". And then I though, "I really need to stop thinking that everything that happens here has to do with me being too stupid to do anything else". I mean, really......how much of their lives are people really dedicating to think about my stupidity. It's definately gotten ridiculous. Yet, its hard to feel comfortable.

I've decided to take everything as a learning experience. Obviously I'm not expected to know everything or else I wouldn't be here, right? This whole thing is a learning experience.

I'm glad for the things I have learned, the dumb things I've said, the stress, the lazy students trying to get me to give them extra points, the plagarising, the grading and most of all the wonderful, kick-ass people I've met.