This was an e-mail I sent to my Bio 9D professor.
PBL stands for "problem-based learning" and "PBLs" are basically worksheet assignments. Story is I missed out on a bunch of 'em unknowing of their value to the course grade. So, I tried to write myself out of the situation.
It was a failed attempt promptly met by rejection, but on the plus side, the professor was thoroughly entertained by the e-mail.
Dear Prof.,
I have committed a series of small follies, reckless and stupid, that have amounted to a great burden of stress. Not exactly the model individual of academia, I missed out on numerous lectures due to a thoughtless cocky action of signing up for your 9 o'clock lecture (which I can hardly wake up for) and working about 20 hours per week (some of the shifts being late night). This has led me to becoming one of your more dysfunctional students; I am wobbling insecurely on the track of this course. Because of my confusion and general disorganization, I have missed out on four out of the five PBLs you assigned. And looking at the syllabus again, I've realized that PBLs are actually worth 30 percent of the course grade... Woh!
Please don't mistake me for being lazy or unconcerned with furthering my intellect and knowledge. I am very grateful for my college education, but at the same time, my devotion to my own personal ambition (which is writing) sometimes makes me stray from the going-ons of my courses. I may not be very disciplined, but damn it, I am severely invested and impassioned in the one thing that gets my blood going - materializing my mind's ventures through the pen. But anyway...
Normally, I would suck it up and take what I righteously deserve. But, in my current situation, a bad grade's not just a bad grade. Already having made my GPA rather shaky through the antics of my first year, the situation stands that if I screw up again this year, my financial aid will seriously suffer and thus unload a burden onto my parents - a truly dishonorable act. I have been improving this year and my GPA's on a steady climb up to the 3.0+ safety point. A D or an F, though, would really knock me down a good couple of steps. Don't mistake me, I am not asking for your pity, but I am asking for some generosity that can come from human sympathy.
Let's get to the meat of it already: Is there any way you can give me a personal assignment to make up for perhaps two or even three (if you're feeling it) PBLs? You don't have to be easy on me either. Make me suffer for my missteps, make the assignment hard. Hell, give me a good diseases-related paper to write. I might even enjoy writing it and in turn, make it enjoyable for you to read. Guaranteed, I won't half-ass this assignment. Looking back, just doing the PBLs would've been much easier. But lost time is time lost. Can't do anything but shrug it off.
So I only ask that you give me a little boost out of the fire pit and make me feel a bit more comfortable. Anxiety's a bitch, excuse my cursing.
At the mercy of your decision,
Thomas Lee
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1 comment:
Wow, is all I can think. You actually sent that to your professor? You've got guts.
I hope you don't mind, but the tone of the letter reminded me a bit of Holden Caufield. The way you were so seemingly witty and uncaring about anything else but what you're passionate about (writing).
Criticizing, as you've previously asked, I felt that the tone of the letter was a little too witty? If you get what I mean? Subtleness has grown these days in society I would like to think?
I find it funny that you actually made a project out of this letter for your practice in writing and whatnot. If you understand what I mean.
Anyway, that is all for now. You must tell me more about what has been happening in your life. Maybe pick up the phone sometimes? Only if you're up to it though. I wouldn't want to bother you and your time that could be better spent writing or doing something creatively awesome.
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