Pen Drought: An Open Letter to my Students

We have yet again reached the conclusion of a semester. By now, you already know what that means. It’s time to count the pens!

…or the lack thereof. Although the number is not totally zero, it is safe to say that we have a pen drought this semester. I cannot  really say that I’m disappointed though.  Here’s why.

Chem 16.1 13L

You’ve been getting really low scores. A lot of you come in a little late for class (ok 9 am is not a little late for our 7 am class). Some of you even slept through it. Despite of and in spite of that, I do not entirely despise you. That is because when I handed you your first exam, you said you would try to do better. I wasn’t really sure if you meant it. I’m not even sure if we did “do better” in the end, but what I’m sure of is that you tried… and trying is the only thing I could really ask for. That, my dearest 13L, is your redeeming quality. You know some reactions do proceed slower than others, but that is not to say that they do not proceed to essential completion. I have unrelenting faith that your efforts will not go unrewarded. So never stop trying. You will get there. I will owe you a pen someday. And even if that day is yet to come, I’m already proud of you.

Chem 16.1 15L

Every semester, I’d ask my students to call me “miss”, not “ma’am”. For some reason, only one class will follow through. Maybe because such small detail will only stick for the class who either (a) care enough to consider what I want or (b) fast enough not to overlook such minute detail (and by fast I mean “not slow”). Whichever category you fall into, I already love you for it.

It’s funny though.  I remember you laughing at a particular class I mentioned in one of my previous blogs—the class who “doesn’t like pens”—and  yet you have befallen the same fate. Well almost. One of you did get a pen in the end but let’s face it, none of you earned it from topping exams. Until now, I’m still baffled why none of you managed to top exams. For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to hate you for it. Maybe because some of you came really close or maybe it’s because you call me “miss” (yes, it goes back to that. haha)

Chem 111.1 7L

With my other classes, I might as well be suffocating from mediocrity. You are my breath of fresh air. I couldn’t explain it really but here’s an attempt. It’s my first time to teach Chem 111.1 and with that comes shortcomings on my part. And yet I never felt inadequate. Imperfect but not inadequate. Chem 111.1 is not an easy subject to teach. And yet you pulled through it seamlessly.

I never got to give you my sem-ender speech. We parted ways on the worst day of my life. Anyway, here is the speech you deserve.

I have a thing for pens. I give them out to students who top lab exams and get a grade of 1.75 or better (see previous blogs). I don’t think I even mentioned this to you. And that’s just because I never felt like I needed to inspire you. I was never worried about how you’d do in your exams. Nervous, yes, but never   worried. But don’t mistake this as a form of indifference. It may seem as if I just don’t care enough but the truth is that I simply trust that you already have everything you need to pass the course. Apparently, I am right. Other than the three of you who dropped early on, none of you were in jeopardy of failing. I didn’t even have to give a 3.0. Although I never got to give any of you a pen, I look forward to owing you one.

Here’s the deal. Graduate with honors, top your boards, win best thesis awards, or be successful enough in your career that you feel like you got better than a 1.75 in Chem 111.1. When you do any of that, give me a call. I shall have a pen ready with your initials on it. Note here that I used “when” instead of “if”. I believe in you that much.

xoxoxoxo

Okay, so let’s go back to the glaring question of who earned a pen this semester. By now, you should have already figured out that the magic number is one. Yes folks, only one person got a pen… and that person is…

<drum rolls>

Mr. Glenn Aldrix Anarna (15L), 1.75

<testimonial and picture to follow>

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