It's week three in the computer aided drafting class. (The teacher is on jury duty. The trial is dragging on.)
Somewhere at the start, Travis informed me he was graduating soon. And as he didn't need this class, he spent his time playing games.
I did the usual. I suggested that he could get work from other classes (like his other "careers" class) and bring it in. Why waste a period? He didn't see my point. He would rather play games.
So, naturally, when that Friday rolled around, Travis did not have all the credits he needed to graduate. But I already told you that story last week.
Monday, Travis was back. The two credits he needed in careers had been reduced to just one. So, he had the day to spend in my class to do the work.
It's amazing how well students work when the motivation is right. For three and a half hours, Travis plugged along on a project. He took breaks at break time, but then he went right back to it, not getting distracted by games, his phone, or anything else. By the end of fourth period, Travis had completed his project and submitted it.
Then he spent fifth period playing computer games while he waited for his sister to come and pick him up.
He graduated last Wednesday. It took a day for the teacher to check his work and approve the final credit.
And while I'm glad that he managed to finish high school, I know he could have been finished a couple days sooner. I try to tell the students this, but alas, I think this is one of those things they have to learn the hard way.
Yay for him graduating, glad he buckled down since he needed that credit!
ReplyDeleteI imagine some of it had to do with family members tearing into him for messing around, too.
DeleteI think he is like a lot of us. Hard sometimes to be motivated to work on a Friday with the weekend ahead. But looked like he was ready to on Monday. That is great for him and congrats to him for graduating!
ReplyDeletebetty
Hi Liz - life seems to be like that ... good for him for getting it done - maybe that experience he'll remember as he progresses to his next level of education - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYeah, sometimes they have to figure out these things on their own or they just don't believe it.
ReplyDeleteWhew! It must be frustrating sometimes seeing kids wallow. Thanks for your efforts to help these kids.
ReplyDeleteSometimes? It's frustrating most days to watch them play games when they could be making much better use of their time.
DeleteI suppose we're all uniquely different in this regard but generally whatever makes one happy will bring genuine happiness to most people.
ReplyDeleteMotivation is a life changer. Maybe Travis will discover that this is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteMaybe... I don't know. I think he needs a couple more years of growing up first.
DeleteMay Travis fare well outside of school!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteAnd had he applied himself before....he would have been out of there before then.
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteAt least Travis learned. :-)
ReplyDeleteAt least he finished. I think most of us learn the hard way
ReplyDeleteYeah, he finished. In the end, that's the only thing that's going to matter.
DeleteWith so many chances at school (and not limited to Travis) I wonder how kids are going to cope in the real world which doesn't forgive like school does?
ReplyDeleteThanks for updating us Liz. Glad to hear he finally graduated even if it was a couple of days later than it could have been.
ReplyDeleteThree days isn't much in the scheme of things, really.
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