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| A college slacker checks on his final grade. |
Take a look at your overall scores there. What you’ll notice is that we’re pretty much in the same place as we were two years ago – nothing’s changed.
What concerns me about that is not your consistently poor grades, but your consistently inconsistent performance.
Scott, as you probably know, when you apply yourself your work is hands down, top to bottom, grade-A material. But then, of course I need to doc-down that grade, for its lateness, the inevitable spelling errors that would make a third-grader scream for her life, for the stains on the paper – coffee; strawberry jam, I think it was, at one point. You and I know that still puts us in the B category, which is not bad – not what you’re capable of, but not bad.
But then we start looking at your final grade and that grade is affected by all your absences, your failed pop quizzes, your absolute lack of any homework assignments what so ever, and now we’re plummeting down into the D for dog category.
Now I don’t consider myself a man given to mendacity – I may be deluded about that, but that’s how I see myself, anyway – but, I must tell you that I’m not going to sit here and tell you that you’re somebody who’s just full of great potential and talent that’s just wasting his time just skating by. Because quite frankly, I don’t think you are full of great talent, or amazing potential.
On the other hand, though, I think you just might be the kind of man that given the right opportunity you could prove me wrong.
And that leads me to my greatest concern.
I’ve seen several men like you pass by – and it’s usually men, which is quite interesting.
What you’re waiting for is some sort of opportunity, a sink-or-swim opportunity, really, where you can prove yourself a hero. But you know what? Those opportunities are not what you expect them to be. They’re small, mundane, even boring. And one of them eventually flowers.
But if you’re waiting for that big situation, you sink. I mean, think about it – if you’re out there, adrift in the middle of the ocean, your chances of reaching the shore are much higher if you just pick a direction and start swimming rather than tread water, waiting for someone to find you and save you.
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