Gotta have it to graduate
*************************************
He was on a crash course through college
.jpg)
Working full-time as an Air Force Airman
Attending night classes to graduate with a BA
While serving at four locations (assignments)
Two in California
One in Thailand
One in Arizona
All in under three and a half years
It was all made possible because
Courses could be successfully challenged
Under the College Level Entrance Program tests
And others could be taken in accelerated, shortened terms
He was on a crash course through college
.jpg)
Attending night classes to graduate with a BA
While serving at four locations (assignments)
Two in California
One in Thailand
One in Arizona
All in under three and a half years
It was all made possible because
Courses could be successfully challenged
Under the College Level Entrance Program tests
And others could be taken in accelerated, shortened terms
Plus, the Air Force had a Bootstrap program
They sponsored the last ten months full-time
But still... there was The Test.
Glendale Arizona Community College
Night class in Philosophy
The professor didn't want to be there
The students didn't want to be there
No one wanted to be there
Four hours a night
Two days a week
For eight weeks
The professor lectured
The students took notes
The professor didn't like
Philosophical discussions
He just kept lecturing
Finals approached
The professor gave his students a break (?)
He wrote four topics on the blackboard
"I will include three of these on the final, essay exam."
The Airman went home to his wife
Who was also working full-time
He said, "Gotta' study. Please help."
Without hesitation she said, "Okay."
First, he cleaned up his notes
On the potential four essay topics
In meticulous outline form
To four levels:
I. Roman Numerals
A. Capital Letters
1. Natural Numbers
a. Lower Case Letters
Then he started memorizing
First all the Roman Numerals
Next all the Capital Letters
And so on
In the latter stages
She would follow his notes
While he laid on the couch
Moaning and groaning
Trying to memorize
And recite the seemingly endless notes
None of it made any sense to him
But he just packed the information in
************************************
The night of finals
His professor wrote 3 of the 4 essay questions
On the blackboard
No stated time limit
The student started writing
Not the essay
Just his outlined notes
Much later...
He began transforming
His notes to long hand
Note style to essay style
Much later...
The student looked up
All the others were gone
Just the professor and the student remained
Still not quite half way done
He wrote a little more
Than made a decision
He gathered all his papers...essay and notes
Stood and walked to the professor's desk
"Look, I still have a lot to do here.
But if you will review what I have done so far
And agree to give me an "A" for the final
We can both go home."
The professor looked at the papers
Than focused on the notes and said,
"Did you bring these in with you?"
"No!" said the student
"I just wrote them out tonight
Right after you posted the questions on the board."
The professor said, "Done."
They both went home.
But still... there was The Test.
Glendale Arizona Community College
Night class in Philosophy
The professor didn't want to be there
The students didn't want to be there
No one wanted to be there
Four hours a night
Two days a week
For eight weeks
The professor lectured
The students took notes
The professor didn't like
Philosophical discussions
He just kept lecturing
Finals approached
The professor gave his students a break (?)
He wrote four topics on the blackboard
"I will include three of these on the final, essay exam."
The Airman went home to his wife
Who was also working full-time
He said, "Gotta' study. Please help."
Without hesitation she said, "Okay."
First, he cleaned up his notes
On the potential four essay topics
In meticulous outline form
To four levels:
I. Roman Numerals
A. Capital Letters
1. Natural Numbers
a. Lower Case Letters
Then he started memorizing
First all the Roman Numerals
Next all the Capital Letters
And so on
In the latter stages
She would follow his notes
While he laid on the couch
Moaning and groaning
Trying to memorize
And recite the seemingly endless notes
None of it made any sense to him
But he just packed the information in
************************************
The night of finals
His professor wrote 3 of the 4 essay questions
On the blackboard
No stated time limit
The student started writing
Not the essay
Just his outlined notes
Much later...
He began transforming
His notes to long hand
Note style to essay style
Much later...
The student looked up
All the others were gone
Just the professor and the student remained
Still not quite half way done
He wrote a little more
Than made a decision
He gathered all his papers...essay and notes
Stood and walked to the professor's desk
"Look, I still have a lot to do here.
But if you will review what I have done so far
And agree to give me an "A" for the final
We can both go home."
The professor looked at the papers
Than focused on the notes and said,
"Did you bring these in with you?"
"No!" said the student
"I just wrote them out tonight
Right after you posted the questions on the board."
The professor said, "Done."
They both went home.
5 comments:
I'm glad it worked out with the professor! CLEP exams! I CLEPPed out of my first year of college that way. It was well worth it to get a headstart, though it still took me four years and two schools, to graduate with my BA (later I got my MA). I never did take a class in Philosophy. It wasn't required to graduate, but I've always wanted to take one, just because- though I'd want an enthusiastic instructor who loved the subject. I like this post, because it points out what it takes, when it's not always easy, or fun.
Yup the famous old CLEP - first counselor reviewed my scores and declared I had 27 semester hours. I was thinking, man I am almost a sophomore and I haven't taken a single test. Once I really got into it and formally matriculated I found out Chapman College (BA) would only give me 18 - may my counselor rot in hell for that! Nah.. it was all good and I didn't have to take any undergrad math classes - probably paid for that later when I had to take graduate level statistics.
Hi Tom,
The same thing happened to me. I didn't have to take a math in college, having passed the CLEP exam by one point, the year before they raised the minimum score, which made it difficult when it was time to take the GRE for grad school, and later, my teacher certification exam. But, with self study and a review class, both times, I did fine; and I got an A in grad level statistics.
I always love reading your blogs Tom, they put a smile on my face.
Thank you Camille! I have a lot of fun writing them and putting them up there for future Campbell's along with anyone else who may be interested. Anytime I can cause a smile it's a great bonus!
Post a Comment