I’m killing time in the computer lab before my next class and I feel as though what I have to say must be recorded. I just left the infamous “office hours” for my Data Structures class and, for the first time since I’ve been at UF in the CISE department, I actually had a pleasant experience. The T.A. that was on duty was very helpful with my homework assignment (I was having a few problems) and he spent quite a while talking strategy with me, so that I can begin focusing on how to ace the final in that class. Up until now, I had never actually even found a T.A. in their office hours when they were supposed to be there! I actually had a class a year ago where I spent the entire semester going to “office hours” about once a week to see if I could find out how I was doing in the class and I never once found a T.A. who could actually give me any information. Nevermind trying to get help on homework, they couldn’t even provide my grades on previous homeworks for me! I ended up with a C+ in that class, but I would bet that no one could actually prove to me that I earned that grade. I would bet that because no one could ever actually prove to me that they had any of my grades recorded for the semester.
Anyway, I just thought it was refreshing to have a good experience in office hours for once. Not only did I find out what I need to do to finish my homework, I also got lots of tips on how to do well on the final and an offer to come in any time before the test for help on practicing for the final, so I can perform up to my potential (the T.A. was shocked when I told him I only got a 50% on the last exam). One a side note, I think I know why I was so ill-prepared for that exam: my T.A. apparently didn’t relay the information he was supposed to about its format and how we should study. Apparently, there were several suggested problems to practice before the exam, but no one in my discussion section had ever heard anything about them. I think my T.A. needs to start sleeping more than 3 hours every 2 days.
Off to class…
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