The entire time I was writing this entry he was pacing at the front of the classroom
As I went from the Johnson Center to Krug Hall for my economics class, I saw a young man in a familiar pink shirt sitting in front of Fenwick Library. He was staring at me. He is a little odd, so it's not unexpected behavior. (I kind of wonder if he's on the autism spectrum)
"H-h-hi," he said, rather quietly.
I was rushing because I was worried about being late for the quiz in class.
"Hi," I said.
I was impatient and he made absolutely no move in the next two seconds, so I said, "We have a quiz right now," and continued my fast-paced walk to Krug Hall. I glanced over my shoulder, and he was still not moving from the bench.
I blew through the two short-answer questions. The first answer was I haven't read the book and the second I was almost as clueless on, because for some reason I am Just Not Getting chapters three and four. Fortunately, our worst quiz score will get chopped off our final grade. Plus, my mind was on Pink Shirt Engineering Major back at the bench. I resolved to finish the quiz in record time and make an excuse about needing to use the restroom, then find him at the bench and ask him what was wrong. PSEM is one of the best students in the class, why was he missing the quiz?
My plan worked perfectly and I left the classroom, except that he was standing in the hallway, drinking from the water fountain.
"You okay?" I whispered.
He nodded, his mind clearly on the phone in his hand.
"You're missing the quiz," I whispered.
He held a finger to his lips and then zipped them.
I actually did need to pee a little, so as I sat on the toilet, I thought about it, and wondered if PSEM was purposefully skipping the quiz. My assumption that he's one of the best students is based on the fact that he talks a lot in class. What if he wasn't certain about the material? What if, like me, he had had a busy weekend and hadn't been able to study? What if it was absolutely none of my business?
So after I washed my hands, I went back to the classroom and started reading chapter three for the fourth time. Maybe it would click this time. The only education I should worry about is my own.
"H-h-hi," he said, rather quietly.
I was rushing because I was worried about being late for the quiz in class.
"Hi," I said.
I was impatient and he made absolutely no move in the next two seconds, so I said, "We have a quiz right now," and continued my fast-paced walk to Krug Hall. I glanced over my shoulder, and he was still not moving from the bench.
I blew through the two short-answer questions. The first answer was I haven't read the book and the second I was almost as clueless on, because for some reason I am Just Not Getting chapters three and four. Fortunately, our worst quiz score will get chopped off our final grade. Plus, my mind was on Pink Shirt Engineering Major back at the bench. I resolved to finish the quiz in record time and make an excuse about needing to use the restroom, then find him at the bench and ask him what was wrong. PSEM is one of the best students in the class, why was he missing the quiz?
My plan worked perfectly and I left the classroom, except that he was standing in the hallway, drinking from the water fountain.
"You okay?" I whispered.
He nodded, his mind clearly on the phone in his hand.
"You're missing the quiz," I whispered.
He held a finger to his lips and then zipped them.
I actually did need to pee a little, so as I sat on the toilet, I thought about it, and wondered if PSEM was purposefully skipping the quiz. My assumption that he's one of the best students is based on the fact that he talks a lot in class. What if he wasn't certain about the material? What if, like me, he had had a busy weekend and hadn't been able to study? What if it was absolutely none of my business?
So after I washed my hands, I went back to the classroom and started reading chapter three for the fourth time. Maybe it would click this time. The only education I should worry about is my own.