A few brave young adults signed up for the class.
They were told that he class would be difficult and exacting. The teacher they knew - he could be a real stickler for the rules. To make matters worse, the class was held during the summer when many of their other classmates were out enjoying the gorgeous weather. But their time would not be spent enjoying the activities or the weather - they would be spent knuckling down to their studies. There was a very strict requirement for study and the work load was a beast.
All of this was on the catalog when they signed up. Yet it filled a requirement they had for the desired course, so they signed up.
Almost immediately people dropped out. They could not hack it. The course work WAS demanding, and the fun their friends were having seemed irresistible.
More came occasionally, on days when it was rainy or when they were bored or there was nothing else going on. They were aware of some assignments as they were due, and were there for some pop quizzes and tests, but otherwise had a fairly relaxed attitude about everything that was related to the class.
Others attended every class, but never did any assignments, outside study, or independent research. They did OK on quizzes and tests, but they were not invested in the class, either.
There were some who loved the class. They did everything they could to gain the most benefit of the class. They not only did outside study, they organized study groups to help process and analyze information when new topics were presented. They typically sat near the front of the room, and it was to them that the teacher spent most of his time, knowing that these folks were really listening. They wrote carefully researched and well written papers that went beyond what was asked. They arranged for the teacher to provide additional office time so they could ask about difficult assignments or further resources. And their enjoyment with the class was only heightened by the enhanced learning they were receiving.
The day of reckoning came - the final exam. It was an oral exam and there were some who did not even appear at the scheduled time. They either did not know it was happening, had other things going, or were too ashamed of how they had spent their time. Others came and stumbled through based on their experience in the class but clearly had not mastered the course work. The ones who shone, however, were those who had gone the extra mile and done the extra work. They were not afraid of the final exam - rather, they looked forward to it with eager anticipation. And when the teacher asked them questions, it was not the basic questions one would ask a normal student - he already knew what they knew anyway. The exam became a discussion of equals and peers rather than a test of knowledge. These students left the examination knowing that they had done well, satisfied in their new found knowledge, and prepared for additional advancement. Having been through this difficult course, they knew and were satisfied that they were prepared for further study and progress.
When the grades came out, there was a great outcry. The students who did not perform well enough to meet the expectations received low marks. "But don't you see - we were distracted!" they said. "These low marks will keep us from continuing on in our progress! We will not be able to achieve our goals with this kind of mark!"
Ah, but you knew what kind of class this was when you signed up for it. You knew it was required for continuing on towards your desired goals. But you chose not to participate and therefore, you chose your own destiny and fate.
"Have mercy!" they cried. "We will reform! We want to be with our classmates!"
It would be a disservice to put you with them. They have outperformed you in every sense. Not only would you slow them up in their progress, but compared to them you would never feel adequate yourselves. Thus, it is in fact merciful to be this way.
Those who performed well received excellent marks. While the marks themselves were gratifying, they were more pleased with the knowledge they had gained which advanced them beyond others and made their lives richer. They were also grateful for the opportunity to know the teacher and to learn from him.
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