Dear Mom,
I have been sick for almost two weeks and have missed every single class. Now that I’m going back, I’m finding that I am behind the gun in everything, including my reading. And now it looks like a test is coming up. How do I catch up? And how do I get ready for a test I know little about?
Sincerely,
Stressed
Dear Stressed,
You didn’t say anything about what was written on your syllabus. Did you know of the assignments before you got sick? Did you know when the test was before you crashed? I am going to assume that you did.
And if you did, I really don’t have a lot of sympathy. Sorry.
The best you can do now is go to your instructor, explain your situation, and hope that he or she feels more sorry for you than I do. Besides, I really can’t do anything but offer you advice anyway. If everything is written out in black and white in your syllabus, there is no reason you need to be completely behind-ever. Calls or emails to your teachers as soon as you realized you’d be absent is always a good idea, and if the day spreads out to more than two or three, and most especially almost two weeks, your instructors should know what is going on.
There is much that can be done at home in terms of schoolwork. There are students you know who can take notes for you, and books you can read even if you’re dealing with your worst “death bed” experience.
I hate to be unsympathetic but this is the real world. Commit and follow through. If you do all you can during the days you are out sick, most teachers I have met will meet you half way; they will do all they can to help you to succeed.
Keep your chin up.
Mom
