Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
I have faith that you can survive the all-nighter and multivariable calculus. But I want you to know that you can survive and thrive even if you were to fall asleep in the midst of the all-nighter and miss the exam completely. And after this exam is over – and you’ve had some sleep – maybe contact the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors) for some academic coaching, so it doesn’t come down to all-nighters next time?
You are absolutely not stupid. You’d be surprised at how many students struggle (many!) Please check in with you professors, your advisor, and the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors). There’s advice and tutoring and support. And thanks for the birthday wishes.
It’s distressing, for sure.There could be many reasons. Academic coaching and tutoring at the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) may be just the thing, but I’d also suggest a talk with your advisor. We all want you to succeed here!
You’re not a failure! It sounds like you made a very rational decision. I hope you got input from your advisor? Also, if you feel a burning need to learn the material covered in calc II (and you might), you can take it later; this year, or even all your college years, are not your only opportunities.
I have faith in you! If things don’t go as well as you hoped, please try some peer tutoring at the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors)
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.”
If I have read your question right (“What is failure?”), you need to read Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. It’s all about what failure teaches, and how to be receptive to it. It takes a certain amount of humor, which she readily provides. (O’Neill & Social Work Libraries, PN147 .L315 1995) Writers seem to write about failure a lot. Here’s another one: The promise of failure: one writer’s perspective on not succeeding, by John McNally. (O’Neill Library PS3563. C38813 Z46 2018). The key takeaway: failure happens, learn from it, move on.
