Want to hear my ten cents worth?
I failed Math 133 (our third calc class, doolie year) in 1980. I was "ordered to attend" my Academic Board for Disenrollment in May 1980.
I sat at the end of a long polished wooden table with 8 officers to my right and left, and one (full bird colonel, department head) at the end of the table. And I will NEVER forget one of those officers...he was a chemistry professor, Lt Col Meier, USAFA Class of 1959...a legend at the "zoo." And he ripped me a new one...heard how I thought I could do better, I could succeed, I would succeed....
He asked: "What drug are you on Cadet? I want some, because that is a fine delusion you have going and I think it'd be fun to experience!"
After being "abused" for about 20 minutes, I stood up and told the colonel: "Sir, I came here to serve and become an officer. If this abuse by senior officers to me, a cadet, is normal, then I do NOT want this. Good afternoon sir!" I saluted and walked out.
And crossed the Terrazzo in tears; my dream was over, I was being disenrolled, after all the work I'd done to get here, the extra year in prep school, etc.
I was chased down by a captain. He came to me, and said: "Cadet...compose yourself, return to the room, report in a military manner, and listen. Clear?"
So I did...
To cut to the chase...the Colonel looked at me at the end of the table...and said: "Cadet...given the choice of volunteering to give up your summer leave to attend summer school, or to attend another outstanding university where this board has no doubt you will be a Deans list member, which would you choose? You have 10 seconds to decide."
The answer was immediate.
Now...I told you ALL THAT for what reason?
I was told later WHY they gave me that offer. Remember folks here speak of "EI" (extra instruction)? Well...in olden days we had 42 lessons in a semester. That's 42 class hours of instruction.
I had 142 hours of EI in that one class!
And that '59 grad, Col Meier? He turned out to be my biggest advocate! His words, described to me were something like: "HE put in 142 hours of EI, combined with our 42 hours of class...and still he got an F grade. Gentleman: we simply didn't reach this cadet. HE MADE THE EXTRA EFFORT! Surely that deserves another chance?"
I think of him often.
Think I'm a believer in EI?
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83