Saturday, February 04, 2006
UBC (N)
I think most of my friends know how much I HATED UBC. It was a terrible experience. I realized how terrible after experiencing education in America. WOW! What a difference; being treated with respect, having the ability to challenge instructors, and feeling like my school actually "cared".
Earlier today, I received a phone call from Helen. Helen is a current student at UBC and is working part-time trying to gather pledges for an endowment fund. I have donated in the past. It wasn't much, but I guess that gets you on a list. I told Helen that I didn't want to donate to UBC ever again, and that her call was bringing up bitter memories. Helen didn't give up. She sounded like a really sweet person. I talked to her for about 10 minutes. She kept asking me about UBC, and her questions brought one particular incident to mind...
After a midterm, one of my answers was graded incorrectly, so I went to tell the instructor. I could see why the grader marked it wrong, but it wasn't wrong, what I had done was actually quite brilliant :-)
The instructor looked at my exam, and saw that I was right, he then accused me of changing my answer! In front of about 10 other students he told me how people like me ruin it for others. Then, he told me if I get a better grade on the final, he would just give me the final exam grade. I didn't really have any other option (I didn't know you could appeal exam grades), so I agreed.
Guess what? After the final exam I went to him to get my grade. He told me my grade, and although it was a good grade, it wasn't just the final exam grade. He could tell I was disappointed, and said "There are a lot of students who would be very happy with that grade" pointing to the students in the room. Making me look stupid yet again. He had used the midterm grade afterall, and when I asked him, he said he didn't say he wouldn't count the midterm. I was so mad that I just walked out of the room. I had no evidence, but what kind of instructor lies like that?
DR. CRAIG BEREZOWSKY!
Getting back to Helen; I didn't go into detail about this incident, but I told her that there was NO CHANCE I would ever donate to UBC. But Helen kept talking, and well I felt sorry for her, and said I would make a small donation. She was so happy, and said "Oh wow, this is my second pledge!" I asked her how long she had been working, and she replied that she was new, and it had only been 3 days. 2 pledges in 3 days!?!? That probably doesn't even cover what they're paying her.
Earlier today, I received a phone call from Helen. Helen is a current student at UBC and is working part-time trying to gather pledges for an endowment fund. I have donated in the past. It wasn't much, but I guess that gets you on a list. I told Helen that I didn't want to donate to UBC ever again, and that her call was bringing up bitter memories. Helen didn't give up. She sounded like a really sweet person. I talked to her for about 10 minutes. She kept asking me about UBC, and her questions brought one particular incident to mind...
After a midterm, one of my answers was graded incorrectly, so I went to tell the instructor. I could see why the grader marked it wrong, but it wasn't wrong, what I had done was actually quite brilliant :-)
The instructor looked at my exam, and saw that I was right, he then accused me of changing my answer! In front of about 10 other students he told me how people like me ruin it for others. Then, he told me if I get a better grade on the final, he would just give me the final exam grade. I didn't really have any other option (I didn't know you could appeal exam grades), so I agreed.
Guess what? After the final exam I went to him to get my grade. He told me my grade, and although it was a good grade, it wasn't just the final exam grade. He could tell I was disappointed, and said "There are a lot of students who would be very happy with that grade" pointing to the students in the room. Making me look stupid yet again. He had used the midterm grade afterall, and when I asked him, he said he didn't say he wouldn't count the midterm. I was so mad that I just walked out of the room. I had no evidence, but what kind of instructor lies like that?
DR. CRAIG BEREZOWSKY!
Getting back to Helen; I didn't go into detail about this incident, but I told her that there was NO CHANCE I would ever donate to UBC. But Helen kept talking, and well I felt sorry for her, and said I would make a small donation. She was so happy, and said "Oh wow, this is my second pledge!" I asked her how long she had been working, and she replied that she was new, and it had only been 3 days. 2 pledges in 3 days!?!? That probably doesn't even cover what they're paying her.
Comments:
By , at
2/05/2006 7:06 PM
arggh such racist profs!! similar incident with me... and i walked off like you did! but next time imma go FIGHT >.<
By , at
2/09/2006 10:27 AM
Helen called me too....unlike you, she didn't get any money out of me. As bad as I felt for Helen, I didn't want anymore of my money going to UBC. I have already put in enough into the pockets of their administrators and president and I refuse to do that anymore!
By , at
2/09/2006 10:28 AM
By pavandeep, at
2/09/2006 11:25 AM
By Prabhu Singh, at
2/09/2006 11:32 AM
Very few things can remind me of my past anger. Professors and authority figures from my youth can bring back memories of intense anger. The smug smile of this guy reminds me of all the abusive authorities from my past. I'm glad I'm done with school I will never go back. The only teachers I will accept in my life henceforth are teachers who have spiritual knowledge and discipline.
I guess the worst thing about these kinds of professors is that they have power over your future. Good grades mean a good job, a good job means good money. For me good money means serving others. It is my desire to help others that motivates me to make money. There were professors in college who cared only for themselves and were making me pay for it. They don't care about your success or my success, they just care about quotas (Not everybody can do well in their class, only the few they've chosen in the beginning). My success means the ability for me to serve others. I take my success seriously and I don't like others interfering with it. These professors are, to me, the equivalent of a person standing in between me (a person with food) and a person who is starving.
I guess the worst thing about these kinds of professors is that they have power over your future. Good grades mean a good job, a good job means good money. For me good money means serving others. It is my desire to help others that motivates me to make money. There were professors in college who cared only for themselves and were making me pay for it. They don't care about your success or my success, they just care about quotas (Not everybody can do well in their class, only the few they've chosen in the beginning). My success means the ability for me to serve others. I take my success seriously and I don't like others interfering with it. These professors are, to me, the equivalent of a person standing in between me (a person with food) and a person who is starving.
By pavandeep, at
2/09/2006 10:38 PM
Prabhu Singh,
I too am glad that I'll never have to go back to school. There were some good professors, and most were neither good nor bad. It felt good "exposing" this guy. What some instructors put you through, just because they have the power to do so, is pathetic. Looking back, more than anything else, I feel pity for this guy .
I too am glad that I'll never have to go back to school. There were some good professors, and most were neither good nor bad. It felt good "exposing" this guy. What some instructors put you through, just because they have the power to do so, is pathetic. Looking back, more than anything else, I feel pity for this guy .
