I've gotten an A in every class I've had in High School, now I'm failing one...?

Question

This is a longer story than it would seem. I am currently taking 5 classes. 4 of which I am getting over 90% so far in, 1, not. This is because I have been overloaded on my other courses, I am doing school until 8 or 9 PM each day. Normally, I'd be able to shift into super-turbo-overdrive, but I am currently also having family problems. I prefer not to go into detail with that, but it is the main thing that is holding me back.

As another downside, last month my computer crashed and I lost all my school files; I had to start some things from scratch. I will be able to do these assignments, I just will have to turn them in late, but my teacher grades the assignments a zero even if they are simply late. I was wondering if there was any way I could make an emotional plea to the teacher to let me turn in my assignments late. Do you guys think it would work?

I have put my life (or what's left of it) on hold many times for school, and I don't want it all to come undone now...

Answer 1

welcome to reality. you expect to get straight a's when ur overloaded on school work AND family problems?

first, get all the easy things done first, you'll get ahead at least. second, if you have problems at home, go to the library or somewhere where you will not be distracted, everybody had problems, but right now, unless its life threatening, try not to let it get to you too much,

once you have done all your easy work, start on the hard ones, if you start on the hard ones, you'll do less. dont worry about getting a lower than an a grade in other class but do worry when it's lower than a c.

good luck,
hope everything works out

Answer 2

For one thing: chill! Why didn't you back up your files? Yikes! Item one: If you base your life on the computer rule number one is always burn a file to a disk! Two: talk to the teacher. He or she might or might not understand. Then again a computer crash could be the equivalent of "my dog ate my homework". Your great grades should be a landmark for your over-all performance and proof of what you normally do. One crash does not a future make. Three: never give up regardless of what has happened to you in the past. This is a bump in your road. You want to succeed. You already have reached more than many. Four: re-evaluate your course load. I don't know what stress you are going through in your life, however my advise is never take on more than you can handle. Never try to become an over-achiever when an achiever works. You have spirit. Never let your spirit be broken. If you think you have been short-changed by a teacher, go to the guidance councilor if you have one in your school and get help there. And whatever you do in the future, back up those files!!! I wish you the best. You have wonderful potential! MMM

Answer 3

I am sorry for the stress you are under. I would first ask the teacher if they would extend due to your crashed computer. If not just drop the class. Take a deep breath and do the best you can. I hope youf family is not putting stress on you to continue getting good grades. (You do not say wether High school or college etc.)
You can retake a class and just do the best. Remember a lot of families have problems and hopefully this will pass for you.
I would try and meditate and see yourself doing well and seeing your family problems lessening. It does reduce the stress. All the best. I also agree that teachers who fail you for not getting your paper in on time, and will not let you give an explanation, is rather a narrow view.

Answer 4

Try to put things into perspective. You're doing exceptionally well in 4/5 classes. If you can, drop the bad class. It's nothing to be ashamed of. In my university the course drop deadline is about a month from the end of the term and you won't get any academic penalty. More people than you think do this. By all means, make an emotional appeal to your prof. Try to do it maturely (not saying you wouldn't), tell him you understand late isn't acceptable, tell him about your other courses, see if he can make an exception. The sooner you speak to him, the better. You really have nothing to lose if you're going to fail the class anyway.

Even if you do fail, it's not the end of the world. It's just one class. You can make it up easily in a spring/summer session. It won't affect your GPA too much in the long-run.

Answer 5

You may drop the class as others have suggested. But here is something you can do:
1) When you apply to top universities, you may write in a separate piece of paper how unfair your situation is in that class. Make sure you have evidence though. If you can write well, you may be able to persuade top universities that justice is on your side (wow, that sounded weird).

2) Set up a conference with your teacher. Talk to her about your situation. If she understands, then you are in luck. If she doesn't, then talk to your councellor and make him/her understand. Once the councellor is on your side, then the teacher will have to listen to the councellor.

I hope you resolve your problem.

Answer 6

Well it all depends on the teacher, if he decides to be a prick, then he wont accept them, however, if he has any human decency, with all the junk happening to you and your reputation, he should cut you a break, meanwhile, you should probrably be trying other things to gain points in the classes, so you wont have to worry quite as much, if worse comes to worse, you might have to retake the class. It might also help next semester if you lighten up your load of classes, you dont have to finish college in 4 years, pretty much everyone takes longer. also this is probarably one of the reasons you should get to know your professors, so they know whats going on with you. basically just try to reason with him, if that doesnt work, then I guess you will be retaking the class. plus everything C and above is pass, there should not be that much of a problem scraping by with a C- for just one class...

Answer 7

Drop the class.

Teachers who fail people simply because their work is late have no right being teachers.