Tears of Joy

     Yesterday was a busy day as usual. Many students made inquiries regarding subjects that will be offered this summer 2010. They had a common concern -- to enroll  this summer so as to remove their incomplete/failed grades in the previous semester.

     My attention was caught by a girl sitting quietly. I looked at her and noticed that she seemed sad, and so I greeted her, "Joy, how are you?" Yes, I recognized her immediately as my former student when she was in her junior years. And to my surprise , tears started rolling down her cheeks.

     I asked why she's crying, and she replied with, "Ma'am, can I talk to you?" I stood up, came closer to her and gave her a hug. "Ok Joy, come here". So I brought her to another cubicle where we can talk privately. I then asked her what the problem is, and learned that she did not make it in two Integration Subjects. She showed me a piece of paper with numerical figures in an excel format, which were obviously the results of her exams and final grades. After seeing the paper, I immediately understood the cause of her distress. Her final grade lacks a mere point-something-percent to hit the minimum grade that can be rounded to eventually qualify her to a passing grade .

     I explained to her that the professors are just complying with the standard grading system of the university, and that her final grade did not qualify to pass. She asked if there could be some consideration since her grade lacks only a small percentage to qualify for a passing mark.

     It is really difficult to fail a student. The professors, after all, are still human beings. But we are guided by certain standards that have to be complied with, in the preparation of grades. For without these standards, there will be much confusion and errors. However, there are times that grades do not actually represent the knowledge inside a student's brain. Then there are also times when Lady Luck plays an important role in determining whether a student fails or passes.

     I later told Joy that the grades in her transcript will become moot and academic when she passes the CPA Board Exam. By then, the tiny drops from her eyes, though are still "tears of Joy," will instead represent happiness.

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