I wrote to my teachers on Friday in order to get my grades via email. Wuthering Heights Community College, which I can now reveal is actually Skyline College, does not mail out grades. That's so last century. Instead, you have to check the county colleges' website; unfortunately, it takes approximately forever for grades to show up. Anyway, to my utter gratification I got A's in both my classes. In fact, I am going to share with you the email from my California State History professor because I thought it was hilarious.
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It was a pleasure to have you in the class. I LEARNED from you. Thanks
for an excellent research paper. You earned an A. In fact, because of the
bonus points available, you earned more than the total points possible as
accumulated from the announced examinations and research paper. Superior job!
Frankly, I feel I am in the "Beyond being measurable Genius" level after that email. This professor may have driven me crazy with his tests, but we got along really well and he was a very fine lecturer. I don't think I made that clear enough in previous entries, and I'm sorry for it. I didn't mean to demonize him. He wanted his students to think independently, so our tests weren't a matter of memorization and regurgitation which is frankly what most teachers expect. If someone needed extra help he was totally there for us. He loaned me his personal copy of an important book on Asian-American history, one I couldn't get through the county library system and didn't have time to order online. Without it my paper wouldn't have been nearly as good. I'm glad he had at least one paper this term which he enjoyed reading. I also think I probably earned my A even without the extra credit. I know I rocked the final.
My piano teacher said I got 33 out of 35 right on her final which would have been an A for a Piano II student. That's nice to hear, though I don't play anything like the Piano II level. I did so well because I studied music for many years and while I had forgotten a lot about playing piano, things like music notation came back very quickly.
I must say I am pleased about exceeding the requirements in both classes. I hope my triumph is equally pleasing to all who had to read me agonizing over every test and performance along the way. But you see? Agonizing is my secret weapon. I don't know what it's like to get an "easy" A. I sweated bullets over every single one. I'm really proud of my latter day college career and it's enormously satisfying to finish with top grades in two tough classes.
I am never taking anything for credit again. I am done with grades and the singlemindedness they engender in me. Ghost of Younger Lucy, you can go away now. You finished your degree in music. You earned a 3.8 GPA, something to be proud of. Your teachers all complimented you, your friends cheered you on, you excelled in subjects you thought you could never possibly understand. Congratulations. Be at peace. I banish you forever.
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