It's official. I'm a terd.
Grades have finally (finally, finally, FINALLY!) been posted and I am officially one terd of the way through law school. Hard to believe that I've made it this far, but there's no time to reflect on that "accomplishment" because I still have another two terds to go.
Invariably, the question will come up: what grades did I get? Several people have asked me already and I'm sure that several more will. For now, you will have to be content with knowing that I passed my classes and that they are not kicking me out of school. Yet. That is, I have above a 2.0. Why the secret? Well, it's not really a secret. It's just something I don't care to disclose for several reasons:
1. The number's not static. As the start of this post mentions, I'm only one terd of the way through. This means that the figure will change. What good is it for me to tell people that I have a certain GPA when it is certain to change by the time I graduate (assuming I graduate)? I'd prefer to keep the figure to myself and let the people that care to know what it is when it is set in stone.
2. I'm a perfectionist. Actually, I'm not sure that's an accurate statement. But what I do know is that I like to be right. I like to have the answer to questions (ask my poor wife – I’m such a mule). And in my previous educational experiences, I had the correct answer more times than not. This educational experience has been slightly different. Some grades I've seen before; others I haven't. I feel that telling my GPA will elicit two responses. In the classes that I did well in (if any), I'd get the "see, I knew you'd be fine. This is just easy for you." (This is similar to the "I'm sure you'll be fine" comment you get before you take the exam.) Rest assured, this has not been easy. It would only serve to add pressure. In the classes I didn't do as well in, I'd get the "well, that's ok. You've got a lot going on right now." (This is similar to the "I'm sure you did fine" comment you get after you take the exam.) I don't want that. I know what my situation is and I don't need the excuse. It is what it is.
3. This is not a time for me to be competitive. Perhaps this, similar to 2. above, is just an excuse. But I don't need to be telling people the figure that is used to judge one’s ability to others. I'm not here to compete. I'm not here to impress. I'm here to graduate. I don't need to be getting caught up in the rat race and taking my focus away from my other obligations. Or, perhaps better stated, I don't need to be taking my focus away from my other obligations more than I already am.
So with that in mind, those that want to know will have to be content with knowing I am passing and that they are not going to kick me out (yet). This means two things. First, the graduation trip to Liechtenstein in early 2011 is still on. Woot woot! Second, I am officially one terd of the way there. I'm hoping to drop these other two terds as quickly as possible to lighten the load.
Grades have finally (finally, finally, FINALLY!) been posted and I am officially one terd of the way through law school. Hard to believe that I've made it this far, but there's no time to reflect on that "accomplishment" because I still have another two terds to go.
Invariably, the question will come up: what grades did I get? Several people have asked me already and I'm sure that several more will. For now, you will have to be content with knowing that I passed my classes and that they are not kicking me out of school. Yet. That is, I have above a 2.0. Why the secret? Well, it's not really a secret. It's just something I don't care to disclose for several reasons:
1. The number's not static. As the start of this post mentions, I'm only one terd of the way through. This means that the figure will change. What good is it for me to tell people that I have a certain GPA when it is certain to change by the time I graduate (assuming I graduate)? I'd prefer to keep the figure to myself and let the people that care to know what it is when it is set in stone.
2. I'm a perfectionist. Actually, I'm not sure that's an accurate statement. But what I do know is that I like to be right. I like to have the answer to questions (ask my poor wife – I’m such a mule). And in my previous educational experiences, I had the correct answer more times than not. This educational experience has been slightly different. Some grades I've seen before; others I haven't. I feel that telling my GPA will elicit two responses. In the classes that I did well in (if any), I'd get the "see, I knew you'd be fine. This is just easy for you." (This is similar to the "I'm sure you'll be fine" comment you get before you take the exam.) Rest assured, this has not been easy. It would only serve to add pressure. In the classes I didn't do as well in, I'd get the "well, that's ok. You've got a lot going on right now." (This is similar to the "I'm sure you did fine" comment you get after you take the exam.) I don't want that. I know what my situation is and I don't need the excuse. It is what it is.
3. This is not a time for me to be competitive. Perhaps this, similar to 2. above, is just an excuse. But I don't need to be telling people the figure that is used to judge one’s ability to others. I'm not here to compete. I'm not here to impress. I'm here to graduate. I don't need to be getting caught up in the rat race and taking my focus away from my other obligations. Or, perhaps better stated, I don't need to be taking my focus away from my other obligations more than I already am.
So with that in mind, those that want to know will have to be content with knowing I am passing and that they are not going to kick me out (yet). This means two things. First, the graduation trip to Liechtenstein in early 2011 is still on. Woot woot! Second, I am officially one terd of the way there. I'm hoping to drop these other two terds as quickly as possible to lighten the load.
2 comments:
The mindset of the working grad student is always different than that of a full time one. I know what you mean, I really didn't give a sh*t about grades, as long as I got my degree.
And with all this hard work, you're still just one terd? LOL.
Yeah! Way to go Brian! Keep taking those Browns to the Super Bowl! Whoop!
Post a Comment