Where there is synergy between grades and knowledge
I remember I once had 99/100 in a French course, and I think that one mark I missed was an indication of my imperfection. It was a general course — GES108 — that I took in my first year at the University of Ibadan. Purely objective test based, and uncomfortably simple. That has been my highest score in UI; but I still feel bad that I didn’t get a perfect 100 score — even after four years. If I had been patient enough, I knew I could’ve got everything.
My second highest score till date is 91/100 in Developmental Oral Communication Skills, my departmental course when I was a sophomore. I had been scantily attending the classes and I had only the exam to show that I knew this course. I had 58/60 in the exam and I felt then the lecturer didn’t just want to give me 60/60. Lol.
I don’t know for every other student; but as for me, my mastery and knowledge of my courses often reflects in my grades. In real life, too, I can tell you that you’d see the significant difference in the things I do or say and in my overall lifestyle. I’ve taken some writing courses that kee-ed me on As and Bs and more grammar and oral English and journalism (news writing and reporting) courses that put on 70 on dot, almost all the time, rather comfortably. The many Bs I’ve got are in advertising, marketing, research, and courses that celebrate the ‘wickedness’ of C-Hell-A lecturers. Lol. Getting a C in a course often makes me feel like an average student though, which I know I certainly am not.
For me, I see every course I take in school as a way of growing, improving and getting better in my craft, that is communication and all aspects of it. That’s why I see school as knowledge-based and not grade-based. After taking a course, if there’s no significant difference in the way you do things, what you say, a shift in your worldview or a relatively permanent in your behaviour, then I’m afraid you’ve not learnt anything. Asides the grades on paper, you must have something to show for them or rather to justify them.
That is why I’m particularly excited I carefully selected all my final year courses in areas like development communication, English phonology, psycholinguistics, feature writing and editorials, online journalism, scholarly writing, business and organizational comms, computer-mediated communication, media studies, governmental public relations etc. I picked these courses because I know they are going to contribute to my career growth.
Over the years, the courses I’ve taken in public speaking, writing, syntax, French, public relations, journalism, advertising and marketing, religious ethics and social conflict etc have broadened my horizons and made me a better person. I’ve had some time to demonstrate the mastery of these courses in my personal and professional life, and even among my friends and foes.
