Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
In Massachusetts, current standards for grades 4 and 5 include only writing the student’s given name and surname in cursive. Nationwide, many schools have let go of cursive in order to teach other subjects with higher priorities, though since 2010 (with a low of 10 states requiring cursive in some form) some states, especially in the South, have begun to require it again. The total as of last month was 18 states.
1) It wouldn’t be the end of the world. 2) You’d probably be disappointed, angry, and frustrated, among other things… maybe even relieved that it’s over. 3) You’d need to make a plan to recover both grades and credits which would mean meeting with an advisor (maybe your official advisor, maybe someone else you trust). 4) You’d need to honestly evaluate what went wrong, so your recovery plan has a chance. 5) You’d need to remember that failure is always the risk of daring greatly, and you need to dare greatly in order to triumph.
I’m here 24/7 and rarely lonely. It is good to see everyone, I’m just sorry everybody’s stressed out.
I’m so sorry you’re feeling stressed out. Wishing you peace and better days ahead. Don’t let the turkeys get you down
Yes. But it’s also a good idea to invest in sleep and decent food. You’ll remember more if you’re rested and not stressed out.
It happens. Everyone is tired and under a lot of stress. Check and see if they need help, and if they do, let my helpers know.
![How to survive finals. [exhausted face]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/aw050619-2.jpg)
Pace yourself. Remember to eat, drink, sleep, and take deep breaths. Remind yourself that whatever the outcome, life goes on. Wishing you all the best!
The really great thing about the questions Perspectives raises is that you have your whole life to think about them. And your answers may change over time. O’Neill is a great place to explore them, too, if you want to do more reading. Come chat with our philosophy and theology librarian, Chris Strauber. Sign up for another course in theology or philosophy. Keep thinking and asking why.
I think it’s “a truth universally acknowledged” that UIS has had its day, and the nostalgia of working in an eighties environment provides limited pleasure to all. There are plans to replace it, see: bit.ly/UISHeights. I am sorrow your advisor hasn’t been much use; another good option is to go to the Academic Advising Center (bit.ly/BC-academic-advising) and have a chat with them.
![Why is this school so damn hard [Response: This place blows]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/aw043019-11.jpg)
A synonym for hard is challenging. The more you’re challenged, the more you learn. But I hear you: there are certainly moments when challenges are… challenging. As to whether it blows… circumstances anywhere can sometimes become genuinely terrible. I hope you have some folks you can vent with. Best of luck on the final push through a stressful time in the semester! If you need a boost in any of your classes, CFLC tutors are ready to help until they close on May 2. bit.ly/BC-connors
I would contact your advisor and the Dean of Students right away and let them know about your situation, and ask them what your best options are. I hope you feel better very soon!
¡Vamos Chapines!
It’s challenging material!. See if you can get peer tutoring at the CFLC (by May 2, bit.ly/BC-connors) and schedule a meeting with your professor to ask what your clearest path to understanding and passing might be. Touch base with your academic advisor, as well. Take good care of yourself (eat and sleep!) so you have the best possible chance for success. I wish you all the best, but also want you to know that failing a course is not the end of the world, even though it might feel that way at the time. There is always a path forward.
![B/c you are a biological failure :) [Response: mean!! :(]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/aw043019-10.jpg)
I’m sure they meant well? In the meantime, here’s a joke to lighten the mood: A physicist, a biologist, and a chemist were going to the ocean for the first time. The physicist saw the ocean and was fascinated by the waves. He said he wanted to do some research on the fluid dynamics of the waves and strode into the ocean. Obviously he drowned and never returned. The biologist said he wanted to do research on the flora and fauna inside the ocean and he also strode right in. He, too, never returned. The chemist waited for several hours and then wrote the observation, “The physicist and the biologist are soluble in ocean water.”
There are a variety of types of aid available for graduate students through the University, including assistantships, fellowships and scholarships, as fell as various federal aid and other loans available from outside sources (bit.ly/BCGradAid.) Also, contact your department about other opportunities in your field that may be available from at different stages of your studies, including assistance for attendance at conferences, scholarships for finishing your dissertation, etc.
![Why there's still so much work to do during the break? [Response: :-(]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/aw041819-10.jpg)
Spring semester is hard on everyone, faculty and staff also. Hold on for a bit longer, it’ll be OK.
🙁 The Wall feels for you. There could be many reasons why he is not teaching a course for undergrads this semester. Faculty have to balance research, publishing, teaching, and life all at the same time. This semester might just be especially busy in one of those areas for him. As to why their are so few math courses, our department is fairly small – nearly half the size of MITs (and that’s just full-time faculty, not even counting adjuncts and graduate students). BC is historically a humanities driven school, and some of the STEM subjects are still growing here.
I strongly suggest GOT as a treat for finishing your homework. It’s a win-win (and no spoilers from me! )
Forgive the philosophical answer, but that depends on what you’re looking for in a philosophy teacher. A good starting place might be to check out RateMyProfessor and see who scores well: http://bit.ly/BCPhilProfRatings.
Be gentle with yourself. Try and control the things you can (food, sleep, physical comfort). Try and do your work ahead, in small chunks, so you don’t have deadline pressure coinciding with a bad day. The best you can do on any given day is still the best you can do, and that’s all anyone can ask.
I am sorry that one of our staff made you feel bad for being in the library late at night. Please know that we are happy that you come to the library, and will do everything we can to make you feel welcomed! Normally, the library opens 24/5. On Fridays and Saturdays, the library closes at 10:00 pm, but the first floor remains open until 2:00 am. Please note that these hours change during holidays, summer session and exam periods. For more information, please visit https://libguides.bc.edu/oneill/hours.
