I always get labeled the “smart” one.
Every single semester, without fail, I get labeled the “smart” one. Last semester it was most clear in my biology class. I’d be sitting at lab quietly doing my work, and in many cases correcting my lab partners work cause she couldn’t even do basic math correctly even with a calculator in hand, and next thing I know everyone at the lab table is asking me questions. Can you show me how you did this, Amy? Amy, I don’t understand this, can you explain it to me? Amy, ok I get that this is what I’m supposed to do, but what does that have to do with what we learned in lecture?
And yesterday in physical science it happened again. It was our first day in lab and I was sitting there minding my own business doing my own work, when I hear those oh-so familiar words “Amy, what does the negative position and velocity mean?” And so I answer. And as soon as I do, the two other members of my lab group chime in with other questions. “Amy, I know I have to put this in for acceleration, but what do I put in for the velocity?” “What does it mean when the graph goes down like this, Amy?”
It was our first class, people. I haven’t so much as said two words to any of them before in my life. So why do they all just start asking me questions? Do I have some tattoo on my forehead which reads “This girl is smart so ask her to explain shit to you.”
I must, because it is also starting to happen in my math class too. Not as suddenly as physical science, I might add, but every now and then as the professor is lecturing one of the people at my table will whisper to me a question about what this or that means. There is a group quiz on Thursday. I’m totally dreading it.
More posts like this:
- Math class homework. – February 5, 2009
- And the first school week is over. – August 28, 2008
- The course catalog arrived! – November 3, 2007
- How my planner reads: – August 15, 2008
- I do mind-numbingly stupid things. – November 10, 2007
sephrenia
February 4th, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
I know what you mean! It drives me crazy when people do that. I know I’m only studying History and Politics but dang it’s the final year! you’d think people would have learnt something by now wouldn’t you?
Anyway, one way I found to combat it is to play dumb. Just start answering the odd question from them with ‘I don’t know d’you?’
When I did it, they got the hint pretty quickly and picked on someone else so I got to write the correct answer while half of them ended up looking stupid. Granted it doesn’t work in group work but still, it helps!
Good luck on the group thing!
sephrenia’s last blog post: Bleh