Setting the Bar

Whenever I'm asked to reflect on myself, I never quite know how to answer. Right now, I'm being asked to reflect upon my learning styles and past experiences, and discuss what 3 comments I think will show up on my midterm report card. I will be frank: I have absolutely no idea how to answer this.

The problem with these kind of prompts, is that even though I'm only supposed to be thinking about what I myself think, that's never the case. Instead, I think about things like, "Should I make all my comments positive things, like a subtle brag, to make me seem like a good student?" or "Should I just write really bad thing, so that in comparison, I'm exceeding all Mr.Plewis' expectations?"

"Should I set the bar high, or should I set the bar low?"

I probably shouldn't do either, I realize, now that I'm writing this out.

Despite my extreme reluctance to write this post, I have to, so I will do my best to make an educated guess as to what will be on my midterm.

Looking at my report card from last year, the three comments I received in English were:

1. Communicates effectively in oral work (lol since when)

2. Communicates effectively in written work (thank you, thesaurus.com)

3. Consistent positive work ethic demonstrated

From the rest of my report card, it would appear that I have a consistent positive work ethic in many of my classes, so I think that this will have a good chance of being one of the three comments that will appear on my midterm report card. There is still a chance that it doesn't show up there though, because to be completely honest, I think many of my teachers in those classes just wrote that because I was quiet and didn't disturb the class.

Whoo, look at me, benefiting from low standards.

Looking at my report card, my theory seems to be solidifying as I did not have "consistent positive work ethic demonstrated" in Computer Studies, a class where I did almost nothing but talk, BUT I got my work done (She was very polite and wrote that I was "good at solving problems collaboratively", but we all know it really just meant " she never stopped talking"). So. ☺. Careful now, I'm onto them.

The second comment that may be written on my midterm could be along the lines of "Communicates effectively/adequately in writing". Last year, my writing mark in English was the highest out of the reading, media, oral, other units (subtle brag but not really). I don't think my writing skills have gotten much worse during the summer, and I think that I will improve by the time we get to midterm (more subtle bragging). Writing, I find, is also much easier than oral presentations, so I will agree with what my grade 11 teacher wrote. I do not agree with what she wrote about oral presentations though, so that will not be going on my fake report card that I am writing myself.

The last comment I think may be written on my midterm will either be "increase participation in class" or "stop talking already". Either or. There's not really an in-between. Of course, "stop talking already" will probably be put in nicer wording, although there is really only one thing it could mean.

I never truly grasped the concept of moderation. Go big or go home. High bar or low bar.

However, if the comment is "stop talking already", then according to my theory mentioned above, I will not get the "consistent positive work ethic" comment either. I suppose in that case, an alternative could be "demonstrates considerable understanding of [insert whatever topic I excel in here]". That also seems to be a common template on my report card.

..................

Well, it seems I have reached the end of my thoughts.

So, I will be cutting my ramblings short for now. I don't know whether I have set the bar for myself high or low, but wherever it happens to be, I hope I can reach it.

Until next time,

A Little Fall of Rain