am I being unreasonable [grin]

[FairLadyRantALot]

well..I did a study skills course at the university I am at, and was told how good I write and got a's. and b's...anyway, now I am doing the actual course (BSc 9Hons) Occupational Therapy) and whilst that diagnostic essay does not really count I am upset at only getting a c-grade, if it was graded..so...whilt I get my tutors points....a c seemed harsh..didn't set out to be average and only got myself to blame.////but, she said c is good in HE...is it? hy am I feeling like a looser? And why the heck am I so stressed out about this assignement and worried it is not going to hit the mark...oh yes..because I have started again seeing myself as a looser....
should I ease up or am I right to be disappointed....and anyway...will I ever learn, sigh...

have you spoken to your tutor and asked why a c-grade? coudl you re-submit to get higher marks?

you are not a loser sweetheart, you are a parent and a student at the same time - you are brilliant!!!

FairLady I am a university lecturer and one of the things I contend with is the fact that when students start they are generally used to getting much higher grades than they get at first at Uni - it is a big leap from skills course to a BSc so you are absolutely NOT crap, generally students have to ease in to writing essays in your new subject area - you may write really well but not quite direcrted your answer at the question asked (hmmm I am beginning to sound like an essay comments sheet here ). The best thing to do is go to see your tutor - say that you get the comments but you would really appreciate it if they could look at your essay with you and give you some idea of how you could have got a better grade - any lecturer worth their salt will be more than happy to do this for you - any student that comes to see me to try to learn how to do better is something to be encouraged!

Finally - much kudos to you for going back to Uni - it is really really hard to start studying after a break (I checked out how old you are on your profile same age as me!) and I can only imagine how difficult it is with kids! Give yourself a break and time to get into it - with any subject you are effectively writing in a subject particular sort of language and that takes time to develop. You are not dim, you can do this and whats more (in my experience) you will probably do so much better at the end of the day because you know why you are there and you want to be there - I LOVE having mature students in my classes, you bring so much more in terms of life experience to discussion and in the end you will probably get more out of it!

thanks both for your replies.

am a bit less stressed out today, so, not feeling so down on myself.
It was actually my personal tutor who marked it...but it isn't marked as it isn't a formal essay...purely diagnostic for them to see where we stand, etc...

will need to ease up onmyself...well...we have study week from monday on and than X-mas break and than Placement....so...will try to work on my weaknesses in this time and will do plenty of reading, and hopefully next time I will produce better work.
Well, in study week we actually have 2 assingments to hand in...one being a Reflective essay and one being a leaflat....so...will see how well I do in those...

I suppose I just hate not being perfect, lol...but I will learn ( I hope)...

you're just like me, too hard on yourself. you will spend that much time trying to be "perfect" you could miss what's actually there. i think we put so much pressure on ourselves because (at some level perhaps) we worry about what other people may think of us and therefore set impossibly high standards for ourselves. coudl you write a rough draft first and then ask your tutor to have a quick look to see where any improvements, if any, could/should be made. YOU WILL BE FINE!!!

Apparently we can't hand in drafts at this Uni....but, I suppose with proper assignments we have a chance to re-submit...

Luckily this first year won't actually be counted towards our degree grade...but we do have to pass it, iykwim...

I always have to do things wrong before I do them right, so take it as a learning experience - ask your tutors what you can do to improve.