Second Chance
The days of working hard
are on their way! I hope each of you enjoyed your holiday and two weeks
of "getting used to school," and are finally ready for hard work again.
Last term was filled with success for some of us, but completely lacking
in success for others. So, what do we need to do this term?
For those who did a good
job, keep up the good work. For others of you, something has to change,
or you'll have even harder times ahead.
This week, instead of
trying to offer suggestions, I want to share some of my observations
with you. Since the day I started my education at Bilkent, I've noticed
a lack of communication between some teachers and "unsuccessful"
students. I know that we're not in a high school environment, and many
of us don't believe that we need help any more, but we still must work
as a team to be successful. Some people who have entered this university
have a certain capacity for learning that isn't oriented in the right
direction. Yes, we're adults, and we have to learn to find our own way
through life, but we still need guidance. If we don't get it, most of us
will be lost.
But instead of trying to
understand each other, students blame teachers, and teachers blame
students. So, students are upset with the instructors who don't try to
understand them, and teachers behave indifferently towards some of their
students.
Dear friends, no one is
trying to fail you, but if you don't attend classes and don't study "enough,"
nothing is automatic. No one can help you if you don't do anything to
help yourself.
And, dear teachers, no
one is coming to your course in order to fail. Maybe your "unsuccessful"
students have problems that don't interest you that much, but sometimes,
by taking five minutes to speak with them, you can see that what they
need is just a little guidance. Life isn't easy for any of us; we're
trying to become something that will make you proud in the future.
Giving help to those students who have lost their ambition will take up
some of your time, but in the end you'll benefit from this "loss." As
the years pass by, your students, even the ones who failed your courses,
will remember you with gratitude.
The choice is ours, to
be a good student, or an instructor who speaks with his or her students.
But, here's just a note to remember: no one wants to be unsuccessful--maybe
they just need some guidance. And guidance won't harm a wise person,
either--it will just help make them a little wiser.
I wish everyone an
excellent term filled with success.
Sıla Türkü Kural (EE/IV)
turku@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
 |
