Defend your answer.

There are just some professors you will never forget even after some years have gone. You might have forgotten their names and maybe even their faces, but you don’t really forget the subjects they taught. Not necessarily because you learned anything from it, but because of the moments you and they shared. Precious moments where thoughts of strangulation and asphyxiation played morbidly on your mind, while you give them your close-up winning smile.

Thus, I will never…ever… forget my IntPhil (Introduction to Philosophy) professor. I think he enjoyed me quite well ahem, torturing me. Each time we had our long quizzes returned, I had a failing mark. Always 1 or 2 points away from passing. I don’t know why but he had this smirk on his face when he calls my name and hands me my paper. I believe my answers are just as good as my friends’, but he prefers the long and elaborate essays compared to my brief and concise answers. One time I tried doing it elaborately, still I failed.

I was seriously annoyed and worried that none of my efforts were meeting his requirements. For the finals, I reviewed all my notes all week, even to the point of memorizing each word. A week after the finals, came the dreaded CCD (Course Card Distribution Day). I was actually nervous, and it was quite obvious as I walked around in circles, anxious to know whether I made the cut or if I got cut.

When my turn came to enter the room, my very good friend Vicky, accompanied me because I was really nearing my very first nervous breakdown (and I was just 17 then…). So we enter, and lo! The smirk appears. I try my best to be calm, and utter, “Sir, did I pass?” for my distress was quite apparent. My tormentor smiles sardonically and says,

“What do you think? Defend your answer.”

I seriously wanted to twist his neck and forget about everything life has to offer. Then Vicky nudged me, distracting me from my enticingly morbid thoughts. I coughed and stared at the ebil professor for a few seconds before I graced him with the sweetest smile I can muster. Yes, even better than the sweet smiles one gives to the object of their affection and desires. Then I took the card and Vicky outside.

Did I pass? Lets just say, the students at Miguel Building at that time wondered if someone just won in the lottery.