Sunday, April 29, 2007
At Least She's Got Some Ambition
Cherry has not put forth much effort this semester. She had fairly regular attendance for the first several weeks of the semester. Then she missed the first exam. I told her I would make an exception this one time: I would allow her to make up the exam (in essay format) with a 50% penalty, and she should not expect this kind of leniency ever again.
Eight weeks later, she still hasn't made up the exam.
Then she failed to turn in her first term paper. Nearly one week after the due date, she emailed me her paper. When she came to class, she inquired as to whether I had received her paper. I told her that I could not accept it unless she had some documentation excusing her absence. "Fine, if that's how you're going to be..." she muttered before storming out of the classroom.
I hadn't seen or heard from her until yesterday. I received an email from her apologizing for missing class and telling me she probably wouldn't be able to make any of the remaining classes. Why? Because she is a "gamer." She plays video games for a living, and, as she explained in the email, she is doing very well in her career. She is doing so well that she has been traveling all over the U.S. for tournaments, which prevents her from attending class. She hopes that I can understand that she needs to do this, and she will try her best to turn in work on time.
Eight weeks later, she still hasn't made up the exam.
Then she failed to turn in her first term paper. Nearly one week after the due date, she emailed me her paper. When she came to class, she inquired as to whether I had received her paper. I told her that I could not accept it unless she had some documentation excusing her absence. "Fine, if that's how you're going to be..." she muttered before storming out of the classroom.
I hadn't seen or heard from her until yesterday. I received an email from her apologizing for missing class and telling me she probably wouldn't be able to make any of the remaining classes. Why? Because she is a "gamer." She plays video games for a living, and, as she explained in the email, she is doing very well in her career. She is doing so well that she has been traveling all over the U.S. for tournaments, which prevents her from attending class. She hopes that I can understand that she needs to do this, and she will try her best to turn in work on time.
Yes, she does seem to be gaming... the system.
ReplyDeleteI've had one professional poker player, and one semi-professional pool player (the money-making part of the gig was really his role as an equipment rep, he explained). Both had to miss a few classes to pursue their other careers (which is why I know about them), but both kept up with the work.
ReplyDeleteSo, while I don't find this student's career all that surprising, I also don't have much sympathy for her approach to her classes. If her career is taking off that fast, maybe she needs to take a break from school?
Of course, I think that NCAA athletes in marquee sports shouldn't be expected to go to school full-time, either (and should be paid, definitely in tuition remission usable at times when they're *not* playing -- either offseason or sometime in the future -- and probably also enough to offset living expenses plus modest walking-around expenses as well, plus a percentage of the profits from anything that uses their image).
My son the college applicant loves that colleges are beginning to consider gaming a "sport."
ReplyDeleteUrrgghh to "Fine, if that's how you're going to be." Frod, where's your stapler?