Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Chapter 3: Help me!!!
"Oh man!! I hate Turing."
"It's so easy"
"No, Gabe. I really don't get this stuff."
"When's it due?"
"After the holidays."
Christmas vacation was around the corner but it didn't look like I was going to have any fun. I had an English Independent Study Project (ISP) and a Computer Programming assignment due after the holidays. English ISP was easier to handle since I loved reading. But Turing, I had no clue. I knew earlier on that I wasn't designed for the patience that was required in programming or the IQ for it. And it didn't help that it was going to be 10% of my final grade.
But like all good things, I had a friend who was good in Turing (a computer language). Yup, you guessed it. Gabriel. So I asked for his phone number and he promised to help me.
During the vacation, there were many occasions where I pick up the phone and hang up again. You see, I hated asking people for help, in fear that I would be troubling them and their work. But it was nerve-wrecking to call him as well. I'm not too comfortable with speaking to people on the phone, especially if it is my first phone call with them.
'Jenn, you're only calling for extra help! You need the marks. Nothing's gonna happen.' I kept telling myself. I kept reassuring myself that it's just a phone call seeking academic help.
At 15, I wasn't the type of person who settles and gets comfortable easily. I was only used to calling Heather and Alex, who were my longtime friends.
"Hello? May I speak with Gabriel, please?"
"This is Gabriel."
"Hey Gabe! It's Jenn. Are you having a good holiday?"
"So far so good."
"Well, I'm just calling about that Turing project."
It was a short phonecall but I wasn't listening to any of the help he was offering. Well, very little anyhow. I was paying attention to his voice. He had a deep voice but a soothing one. The one that has a tone of genuity yet playful.
I didn't acknowledge my 'weird' feelings back then to myself, I regarded it as nervousness of calling somone I didn't know too well.
"It's so easy"
"No, Gabe. I really don't get this stuff."
"When's it due?"
"After the holidays."
Christmas vacation was around the corner but it didn't look like I was going to have any fun. I had an English Independent Study Project (ISP) and a Computer Programming assignment due after the holidays. English ISP was easier to handle since I loved reading. But Turing, I had no clue. I knew earlier on that I wasn't designed for the patience that was required in programming or the IQ for it. And it didn't help that it was going to be 10% of my final grade.
But like all good things, I had a friend who was good in Turing (a computer language). Yup, you guessed it. Gabriel. So I asked for his phone number and he promised to help me.
During the vacation, there were many occasions where I pick up the phone and hang up again. You see, I hated asking people for help, in fear that I would be troubling them and their work. But it was nerve-wrecking to call him as well. I'm not too comfortable with speaking to people on the phone, especially if it is my first phone call with them.
'Jenn, you're only calling for extra help! You need the marks. Nothing's gonna happen.' I kept telling myself. I kept reassuring myself that it's just a phone call seeking academic help.
At 15, I wasn't the type of person who settles and gets comfortable easily. I was only used to calling Heather and Alex, who were my longtime friends.
"Hello? May I speak with Gabriel, please?"
"This is Gabriel."
"Hey Gabe! It's Jenn. Are you having a good holiday?"
"So far so good."
"Well, I'm just calling about that Turing project."
It was a short phonecall but I wasn't listening to any of the help he was offering. Well, very little anyhow. I was paying attention to his voice. He had a deep voice but a soothing one. The one that has a tone of genuity yet playful.
I didn't acknowledge my 'weird' feelings back then to myself, I regarded it as nervousness of calling somone I didn't know too well.
