Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Peeved

I woke up this morning to an e-mail from a former student asking for a letter of rec.

Facts:

- I can barely remember who he is.
- He admitted he didn't do well in the second class he took from me.
- He attached a kind of lackluster essay from the first class.
- He asked me to "take five minutes" to write him a letter of recommendation.
- The letter is due today.

OK, student, here you go:

Dear Professional Organization Internship Committee,

Stu Dent, who did not distinguish himself in my class, asked me to only take five minutes on this letter. Since he asked me to write it today, I'm happy to drop everything and oblige him those five minutes.

Best,

trillwing


He's damn lucky I'm not sending that letter--or any letter.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

i swear. what is wrong with people?

Heather Clisby said...

SEND IT! SEND IT! SEND IT!

C'mon, you know you want to.

Bardiac said...

Oh, Brilliant!

I'd love to put that on my door, just as a sort of warning...

Anonymous said...

This is so funny, simply because I just started reading the Phdcomic "Piled Higher and Deeper" and so many of their comics refer to students asking for recs. in such disrespectful and just plain stupid ways.
I just found your blog through blogher and got hooked in by the post you have about metro cities. It's well written and articulates the "false dichotomy" of locations really well.
I'm applying to English phd. programs in the fall and one of the concerns in the back of my mind is location. As a woman of color, I am torn between "go wherever the best programs are, wherever the best education is for what you want to pursue" and "diversity - progressive mindsets to keep myself sane, my future children sane, etc"

Anyway, this is a fantastic blog! I'm so glad to have come across it.