Supermodel Student and Just a Side Job Reminder

Looking back at this entry, I just want to update about Shackeema. I did ask Shackeema to help me after the semester was over (and she's no longer my student), and she was willing. But I did not continue to contact her again because I am hesitant (due to reasons I've already mentioned in this entry.)

By the way, she passed both exams after my advice and extra tutoring from me during that semester. My lead supervisor thought she was a sure pass, or way above passing. Because of my experience, I knew better and I even told her frankly a week before the exams, "You are on the border. You could pass and you could fail. The more you study and do the practices I provided, the more likely you will pass. She listened. When we got her scores, she just passed (for both exams). So much for my supervisor's "way above passing" assessment of her.

Regarding that department, I left that department. Toward the end of that semester, my supervisor knew that I am a lot more experienced and knowledgeable than his initial preconceived notion about me. (Throughout the semester, he started to realize more and more about my knowledge and experience because he talked with the director (who is both our boss and who is also very knowledgeable and experienced with our subset of students). She, the director,recognizes my knowledge and experience unlike my supervisor. Also my supervisor in training meetings probably came across other instructors who knows about my work and my results in the past. In addition, he started realizing more and more that he and I are on the same boat. If our students have a good passing rate on the exams, that would be on both our records. Throughout the semester, I did everything I can to help the students and improve their chances of passing the two exams, including having to do things without letting him know what I am doing (so that I don't have to deal with his resistance). Toward the end of the semester, he was less resistant and he kind of knew that I am keeping him in the dark in certain things I do, but he also started to realize that whatever I was doing, it's effective. However, by that time, it was "too little too late". I had already decided not to stay at that department. He was not happy when I told him toward the end of the semester. You see, our performance is reflected on the data (our student pass rate), and he (somewhere in him) knew that I am pulling up the student pass rate for him. The following semester after my departure, he has likely realized how much I pulled up the student pass rate for him.

Anyway, it was absolutely the right decision to leave because toward the end of the semester, I developed I health problem that I believe was emotionally induced. Although working for the worst supervisor I've ever had was not the sole contributor of the health problem, it was a big part of the cause. Also, I think the health problem was God's way of making sure that I leave that department and to focus on the main work I got off the common road for years ago.