Thursday, March 17, 2011

Welcome to the Academic Hell of an Honors Student in the top 10% of her class... for now.

How should I describe the last few days... I guess it would have to be "Survival Mode". What a change from the happy-go-lucky girl of last week that frolicked around London with her boyfriend.

After fighting off a nasty cold in less than 3 days, I thought it would be an awesome week, filled with being productive for my final essays....

And then my world came crashing down. Just last week, I moved up my flight to get home early because I had received an e-mail entitled "Exam Revision", (which I assumed to mean that it was an amended Exam Schedule) and figured from the chart that I would be done May 6th. Which meant if I could get home before June 4th I could start my internship early and get more research time in order to write my thesis.

And then on Wednesday morning I found out that "Revision" in the UK means REVIEW. EXAM REVIEWS. THEY REVIEW MATERIAL. I would be done REVIEWING material the 6th. The real Exam period starts May 9th.

And when did I book my flight for? May 8th.

And I had to pay a $300 fee to change the flight. Figures.

Upon receiving this news, I freaked. Silently. Since I was in lecture. However, I think even if I wasn't, I still would've been silent. If you know me well, you know that if I am freaking out silently, that means I am freaking out to the EXTREME! In panic mode, everything shuts off but my brain.

The second my lecturer shut up, I ran to the Geography Department office and told them the situation in the calmest way possible. I then asked them for the Exam Schedule. Their response? "The exam schedule is not published until next Thursday. But it is too late in the term to do anything."

TOO LATE?! HOW THE @$#? IS IT TOO LATE?!?!?! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN PUBLISHED THE EXAM SCHEDULE!!! HOW THE HECK ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE CONFLICTS?!?!?!?!

Did I say this? No. I'm a coward. Instead, I calmly and politely thanked them and ran to my next class, which I got to just in time. After class I headed to the Study Abroad Office, which was even less of a help than the Geography Department, if that is even possible.

Seriously, the Brits could have used the Germans taking over in World War II. Maybe they would be more organized and efficient. Harsh? Maybe. But really, the lack of organization at this school is astounding. Especially when it comes to classes.

Enter "Survival Mode". I have to say, I am one scary girl when I am in this mode. I AM IN THE ZONE!

Long story short? After finding the office hours of the professors of the two classes (yeah, only two) affected by this mess, e-mailing them to request meetings, e-mailing the Study Abroad Office, Geography Department, and my Tutor about the situation, writing a speech to give the professors about my situation, and planning out possible options for myself if the professors couldn't think of any, I was prepared. And slightly calmer. Emphasis on the word "slightly". And this was all on Wednesday afternoon.

This got me in a very productive mode. Therefore, I took advantage of this mood and worked out next semester's schedule at URI, and even signed up for 3 online summer courses. And guess what?! I MIGHT GRADUATE ON TIME NOW! Take that double major! No extra semester for me!

This should've made me feel like I was on top of the world, but it didn't since I felt like my academic life at King's was falling apart.

Enter Thursday. 2 of the 3 professors I needed to talk to had office hours. Luckily, the two that had hours co-teach one of the classes effected. The first started at noon, the next started at 16:00 (4pm). Shaking, I waited to meet with my first professor, rehearsing my speech under my breath. Finally, he called me in.

I sat down, calmly explained the situation (that's right, no tears! Just had to fight for my voice a little), and waited for the professor's response.

Did I mention that this professor is one of the lead Risk Analyzers in the UK, and his help is frequently enlisted by the government and the BBC? And that since the earthquake in New Zealand and now the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, he has been on the news CONSTANTLY? Yeah. Intimidation to the extreme.

He listened to my spiel, and then told me not to worry. He would talk to the co-lecturer for the class, and told me he thought he could make it so I just had another essay to do if worse came to worse, meaning I could still go home. He told me to cancel my meeting with the other lecturer- he would tell him about my situation in his meeting with him that day, and they would discuss my options.

Breathing a sigh of (hesitant) relief, I thanked him profusely for meeting with me even though he was so busy. And you know what he did? He asked me to tell him about myself! What I studied at home, where I came from, and my career goals! We actually had a decent conversation! Finally, I bid him adieu, walked down the hall, and around the corner.

And all but collapsed against the wall with a hugh sigh. THERE WAS HOPE! Then I realized that I had done this in a common area, which happened to have some poor guy sitting there waiting for a meeting. He must've thought I was crazy. Or maybe I terrified him, since he was apparently waiting to meet with the same professor. HA! O well!

For now, this is where I stand. Although I am considerably less stressed, I still have to meet with the last professor AND wait for word from the other two.

If worse comes to worse and I have to sit for these exams, you can expect that I will be on the phone ALL DAY with Virgin Atlantic trying to find a way around paying ANOTHER flight change fee. Seriously- I'll be in "Executive Bitch Mode" (a la Sandra Bullock in "The Proposal"), and that is a mode which you do not want to deal with me in.

So watch out King's/Virgin Atlantic. You've been warned.

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion! (I hope it will be exciting in a way which allows me to still come home May 8th)


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