In my first semester of senior year at college, the professor of my Modern Literature class offered a great deal.
“I am thinking of letting you guys write a report instead of giving you a test. Is there anyone who disagrees?”
All my classmates raised their hands in agreement, although they said it was still fine if they took the test instead.
There were four months left until the final so no one was in a hurry.
When the test week drew nearer, the professor mentioned the report again.
“The report is due by June 30th, 12 am. If you turn it in late, I won’t accept it.”
“What? Why is the due date June 30th?”
“I am going to America in the middle of July to do training for three months. I have to grade the reports before then.”
‘Oh my God, I have been idle…..I should start writing the report.’
The report clashed with other tests so I could not even dare to start writing it.
I just decided to take care of the other tests first and if I had extra time, I was going to write it.
I had to think about the title of the report, make an outline, and search for some resources….
I thought that there would only be one mountain I needed to overcome but instead there were 12,000 mountains.
When the due date for the report came, there was a war in the computer lab in the college of Liberal Arts.
The lab was overloaded with the students who were taking the Modern Literature class, trying to finish their assignments.
I had to complete my assignment too but I had made my outline too broad so I could not finish on time. I stayed up all night missing the due date and was barely able to email it to the professor the next morning. (At that time, I did not have a computer at home).
I was expecting a good grade.
Unlike other students, I had outlined it like a dissertation and referred to various resources so the content of the report was very abundant.
In the middle of July, I got the grade.
I checked my grade with excitement and… what? I doubted what I had just seen.
‘D+’
‘Usually even when a student only attends class well and just takes tests, the grade doesn't go down under a C….maybe the grade was processed wrong?’
I called the department office to find out the professor’s contact details.
“Professor, I was given the grade D+. I think my grade is wrong. Can you check again please?”
I heard some rustling sound over the phone.
“Well, I graded you right.”
“What? I turned in all two reports though?”
“Then why did the grade come out as a D+?”
“Actually…..I turned them in a day later.”
“Then the grade is not wrong. It is correct. I did not even take a look at the reports that were turned in late.
I already promised that I would only check the reports that were turned in on time.
I think I gave you enough answers for your grade.”
I was holding the phone for a while, dumbfounded and unable to say anything anymore.
Even though I received all As, because of the D+, my scholarship had gone far away from me.
‘If you miss the right time, all your work from the past will be in vain.’
Like the Jewish people.
