February 21st, 2008
Two weeks ago, my dad received a job offer from a church in Chatham.
My dad, being a pastor, doesn't get much of an income and so my mom works part-time. Our church right now consists of two members outside of our family. Really tiny, I would say. But since this was a great opportunity for my dad's career, he accepted the job offer. So we planned on moving there in June, when I would graduate from my current high school. It would only be four months until then so we decided to hold the move until later.
This past weekend, when we went to our new church for the first time, the members told my parents that it is absolutely necessary that both my parents be there at all times. My parents could only agree, of course, so they obliged; the move was pulled up latest by March Break, which is in a couple weeks. It was decided that my older brother and I would stay in Toronto to finish this school year and join them, come summer. But that was not to be.
My band teacher from last semester gave me a 100% as my midterm mark. I was extremely happy, of course. I didn't even consider myself that good of a flutist. But that mark didn't last too long.... At my final exam, we were given six pieces to play. I played the first three pieces and was told by now band teacher to stop playing. He said my playing was horrible and he no longer wished me to continue playing. I asked him about half a dozen times for him to let me continue playing. He told me it was unnecessary and told me to stop playing. So I did.
My final report card came home. He had given me a 72 as my final mark in that course. AND I was enrolled in the Gr.11 Credit since I had not taken this course the year before. I was more than capable of playing the same pieces as the Gr.12's, of course. So my teacher told me he would give me a Gr.12 credit. I took his word for it. But on my report card, it said I had received a Gr.11 credit. I was royally pissed.
I went to school the following morning, report card in my hand, and walked up to my band teacher. "Sir, you REALLY can't do this to me!" I said, marching up to him and waving the blue paper in his face. "Oh? Why? What's wrong with your mark? You played HORRIBLY!" I was mortified. "Sir, you told me that you were going to give me a high mark in that class! That mark was supposed to BUMP UP my average! Not drag it down!" He just gave me a blank look and asked me whether this was my final year. "Yes, of course it is," I replied. "I need this mark for university!" He then told me not to worry; I'm graduating this year anyways, so it shouldn't matter. OHH NO. It's BECAUSE of the fact that it's my final year that I need that grade that badly! All he did was tell me he would look over my marks and he walked away. I decided shortly thereafter if my grade isn't fixed soon, I have to go talk to someone from the board of education. I had to have my mark!
Beginning the second semester, I had a guidance appointment.
I was scheduled for early in the morning but I had been away that day due to my sickness. My teacher told me I missed my appointment and I went downstairs to check with the guidance secretary. Since I had a very good relationship with that secretary, she happily obliged to re-booking my appointment. My courses didn't have any real problems so far. I would stay with my courses now and get a high average like I had planned.
My first period class was a tech design class. I was again enrolled in Gr.11 but I asked my guidance counsellor whether I could upgrade this course credit. He said as long as my teacher came down to talk to him, I could have the Gr.12 credit. So I asked my teacher as a favour and she readily agreed. I was a good student in most of my classes and a favourite among quite a few number of teachers. The next day, she approached me and carefully told me that my guidance counsellor had informed her that since I don't have my Gr.10 prerequisite, I couldn't get my Gr.12 credit even if I were more than able to complete all requirements of the Gr.12 course. I couldn't believe that he gave me false hopes and said something entirely different to my teacher than what he had told me! I then decided I couldn't stay at such a school; a school whose teachers went back on their words and failed the trust of their students. It was no longer necessary to stay at such a school.
I informed my dad last night of my misfortunes. He would call the board of education in Chatham and get me a course selection sheet as soon as possible. I would be moving away to Chatham, a rural town 3 hours west of Toronto, in less than two weeks.
If this is the only way I can go to university next year with full credits, so be it....
I just feel the slightest regret for my closest of friends whom I will miss sickeningly. <3
Two weeks ago, my dad received a job offer from a church in Chatham.
My dad, being a pastor, doesn't get much of an income and so my mom works part-time. Our church right now consists of two members outside of our family. Really tiny, I would say. But since this was a great opportunity for my dad's career, he accepted the job offer. So we planned on moving there in June, when I would graduate from my current high school. It would only be four months until then so we decided to hold the move until later.
This past weekend, when we went to our new church for the first time, the members told my parents that it is absolutely necessary that both my parents be there at all times. My parents could only agree, of course, so they obliged; the move was pulled up latest by March Break, which is in a couple weeks. It was decided that my older brother and I would stay in Toronto to finish this school year and join them, come summer. But that was not to be.
My band teacher from last semester gave me a 100% as my midterm mark. I was extremely happy, of course. I didn't even consider myself that good of a flutist. But that mark didn't last too long.... At my final exam, we were given six pieces to play. I played the first three pieces and was told by now band teacher to stop playing. He said my playing was horrible and he no longer wished me to continue playing. I asked him about half a dozen times for him to let me continue playing. He told me it was unnecessary and told me to stop playing. So I did.
My final report card came home. He had given me a 72 as my final mark in that course. AND I was enrolled in the Gr.11 Credit since I had not taken this course the year before. I was more than capable of playing the same pieces as the Gr.12's, of course. So my teacher told me he would give me a Gr.12 credit. I took his word for it. But on my report card, it said I had received a Gr.11 credit. I was royally pissed.
I went to school the following morning, report card in my hand, and walked up to my band teacher. "Sir, you REALLY can't do this to me!" I said, marching up to him and waving the blue paper in his face. "Oh? Why? What's wrong with your mark? You played HORRIBLY!" I was mortified. "Sir, you told me that you were going to give me a high mark in that class! That mark was supposed to BUMP UP my average! Not drag it down!" He just gave me a blank look and asked me whether this was my final year. "Yes, of course it is," I replied. "I need this mark for university!" He then told me not to worry; I'm graduating this year anyways, so it shouldn't matter. OHH NO. It's BECAUSE of the fact that it's my final year that I need that grade that badly! All he did was tell me he would look over my marks and he walked away. I decided shortly thereafter if my grade isn't fixed soon, I have to go talk to someone from the board of education. I had to have my mark!
Beginning the second semester, I had a guidance appointment.
I was scheduled for early in the morning but I had been away that day due to my sickness. My teacher told me I missed my appointment and I went downstairs to check with the guidance secretary. Since I had a very good relationship with that secretary, she happily obliged to re-booking my appointment. My courses didn't have any real problems so far. I would stay with my courses now and get a high average like I had planned.
My first period class was a tech design class. I was again enrolled in Gr.11 but I asked my guidance counsellor whether I could upgrade this course credit. He said as long as my teacher came down to talk to him, I could have the Gr.12 credit. So I asked my teacher as a favour and she readily agreed. I was a good student in most of my classes and a favourite among quite a few number of teachers. The next day, she approached me and carefully told me that my guidance counsellor had informed her that since I don't have my Gr.10 prerequisite, I couldn't get my Gr.12 credit even if I were more than able to complete all requirements of the Gr.12 course. I couldn't believe that he gave me false hopes and said something entirely different to my teacher than what he had told me! I then decided I couldn't stay at such a school; a school whose teachers went back on their words and failed the trust of their students. It was no longer necessary to stay at such a school.
I informed my dad last night of my misfortunes. He would call the board of education in Chatham and get me a course selection sheet as soon as possible. I would be moving away to Chatham, a rural town 3 hours west of Toronto, in less than two weeks.
If this is the only way I can go to university next year with full credits, so be it....
I just feel the slightest regret for my closest of friends whom I will miss sickeningly. <3
1 comments:
seriously? Are you kidding me? Take virtual school or something. Take a year off, work, make ur money 4 university. Whats ur rush? Go in quick to fail? Collect ur thoughts, pick a good university, make ur money for it so you arent stressed. Life if controlling you, you got to learn how to control life.
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