Friday, September 16, 2005

After a conversation with my friend Zelda today, I got to thinking about the road I took to get to my current place in life. If the outcome was predicted by the courses where I shone during my college years, I'd be a theologian (Systematic Theology was the pertinent course here) or I'd be designing and analyzing standardized tests (Psychological Tests).

The Systematic Theology class in question was a quake-in-my boots experience. There were four other students in the class. The prof had just been promoted to Dean of the School of Theology (or SOT, a graduate school for ministers-to-be). He asked if we would mind meeting in his office, and we agreed to do so, of course.

The class met twice a week for one and one-half hours. Each student had to teach one class session for 20% of their final grade. I was terminally shy at the time, so this was pure, unadulterated torture for me. My mouth and my throat dried out, and my voice went painfully hoarse. I mean actual, physical pain.

A take-home, open-book, open-note test (you could choose 3 questions out of 4 to answer) was another 20% of your grade. The rest of the grade was based on reports and essays. This was the semester that I lived at the SOT library. I was there when it opened, I was there between classes, I was there when it closed. I knew the stacks better than the librarians.

Needless to say, I did NOT become a theologian! However, I highly recommend the educational method outlined above. I worked harder and learned more in this one class than in most of the others combined, and it was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life.

I'll mention my prowess in Psych Testing in a future post. It relates to the history of the computer as an educational tool. In other words, I went to college before the dawn of digital enlightenment, before computers had Windows, mice, or color monitors...

3 comments:

Zelda Parker said...

I believe that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we don't know why, granted. I had dreams of being a decorator; first clothing, interiors and my favorite as you know was landscaping. I am confident that I would have been as good as any but.....perhaps in my future endeavors. Who knows? The one thing I am sure of is every step along the way has provided me with the opportunity to make some lifelong friends, some who serve to challenge and inspire me. I would chaange a moment!

Merci said...

Zelda,
I suppose I would change some things if I could go back, but I don't believe in regrets. Take the word out of our vocabulary!

But, hey, I could use the advice of a landscape designer - consultation only, no labor involved! Know anyone???

Zelda Parker said...

I can reccomend someone for consulting, no fee either. Where would you get a better deal?