Teeth

I woke up with tiny pieces of teeth in my mouth, I assume it is a sign that I am now grinding my teeth. I don't suppose that it has anything to do with the winter class I have chosen to take and I don't think it has anything to do with my carpool, slash, fellow student, slash, lab partner.

The class that I am taking is general, organic and biochemistry, all in one. The session lasts for 5 weeks and my hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with 30 mins in between. We have two quizzes per week and an exam per week.We complete a chapter per day, which means our exams are based on 5 chapters. Needless to say, I am on the wrong side of the grading scale.

My carpool/fellow student/lab partner and I decided to take the class together so we can save gas and 'help' each other. After class we stay at the library until it closes which is 7 p.m. I don't get home until 8:30-9. From 9 until about midnight I read my book and then wake up at 5 a.m. to start again. Here is the problem: my fellow student does not open her book. The book that cost $95. She expects to learn from her notes and then by asking everyone and anyone questions that she has and if she doesn't understand the answer she will re ask the question and keep on doing it until she is satisfied. Right now at this moment she is stuck on chapter one while we have just completed chapter 7. To explain the extent of her mental capability I will share my experience with her in lab today.

The experiment consisted of using a fairly huge thermometer, a canister, two different types of chemicals and water. From experience, I have given her the "easy" things to do while I use the raw data, mix chemicals and then make calculations. Today was like every other miserable lab I have had. I told her to just get the thermometer, canister and the rubber stopper that holds the thermometer into the canister. As I was mixing and reading the instructions I hear her to my left bitching and complaining about the thermometer. It went on until I actually needed the canister. It turned out that she put the thermometer on wrong, used the canister lid upside down and decided to force it causing the glass, 12 inch, thermometer to get stuck. The task was too difficult for her. I proceeded to take it from her and in the silent but deadly mode I have, did everything. She would ask her questions and I would not answer. She knew that I was fed up. As the experiment was completed, I proceeded to enter the raw data and make the calculations and enter them into the lab manual. I gave her my manual to copy and she began to question. The problem? She cannot set up a problem to convert it, wait, she cannot make conversions, no wait, she is not capable of doing math. Simple. No math. It seems like she has gone through her academic career copying. BUT, with me she cannot just copy, she wants me to EXPLAIN to her how I set up the problem, how I made the calculation and WHY I wrote the answer as I did. On a daily basis since last week I have been telling her, explaining, drawing,making  flash cards and just plain writing it out in words. On a daily basis I have been at her level and now I am at her grade level. We are both completely and exactly at the same grade. We have failed every miserable quiz and exam.

I am anchored. I feel anchored and stressed and all I can think of is the waste of money, time and especially about my parents. I get home late to find my food on the stove. I wake up early to find coffee, juice and a fruit to take to school. So not only am I letting myself down, but I am letting my parents down. To top all of this? I need to complete the course to be able to take the physiology that I signed up for, for next semester. I need to take physiology, in order to keep the B that I earned in anatomy OR I lose the B and have to start completely over in the fall.My grade point average went down from the six week math course I took and I cannot emphasize how an F will affect it.

I am not getting any money and my financial aid was denied. I am appealing it, but in the meantime I am late on my cell/Internet payment. I need both for school. I use both for school. I cannot explain in words the way I feel.

Today, I told her I couldn't stay after class. I just couldn't. I think if I had to explain to her anything I would have gotten the thick, $95 dollar book and slapped her twice with it. I don't know how to tell her that I would much rather study on my own then having her on my back. That is how I feel, like I am carrying this two hundred pound, married woman that cannot take the time to read her book or even follow the 'notes' she takes in class. I feel anchored because she helps me by reducing my gas and using the carpool lane. I don't know what to do and at this point we are so far behind on points that it will literally take us an A on every quiz and exam coming up to just get a D...yes, and not a solid D!

Oh and she is my FaceBook friend, so I cannot bitch on there.

Before I forget, would you want her to be your nurse? Or would you prefer me to be your Dr's assistant?

So, back to my teeth. No, I don't have dental insurance.