It is the end of another semester. This is Wed., the last week of classes. Next week is finals week.
We are so busy during the semester that when the end comes, we are never truly ready. We always have in our minds “the next class”. For example, if we have not covered something, we will bring it up “in the next class”. This week we realize there IS no next class. We are having our final class meetings. Finals week is finals and tallying grades and that’s it.
I see students trying to make it. For some, it is the final hour and the final possibility of passing. For some it is the difference between getting playing time, or sitting on the bench. Now, all of a sudden they are concerned.
Partly, I feel very frustrated with students asking what they can still do to improve their grade. But partly I identify with them because we all do the same thing. We write papers the day before they are due. Professors finalize their conference presentations the night before in a hotel room. I have done it many times myself.
What it boils down to is our lives are too dang busy. So we do what needs to be done to meet the next crisis deadline. Then we look to the next deadline.
So what I do, is I allow students to turn in assignments late, for half the points. It would be better if they did it on time. Someday maybe they will realize doing it ontime means they get ALL the points. But for now, they just get behind, and many of my students are 1st-generation college students. They don’t keep up. For my freshmen and women, they are learning what kind of work goes into getting through college. Hopefully they will improve into their later years in college. If they are doing the work late, at least they are doing it. They don’t deserve the same grade as those who did it on time, but I will give them 1/2 credit, & maybe they will pass the class.
After finals week, I always go into a depression. Then that lifts and I enjoy my time off.
Doctor Grandma 
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