Elaine in Melbourne

I just got back my first graded assignment, a 4000 word (!?!?!) essay on defining and critiquing international education.

I must confess, I only started seriously reading, planning and writing this essay ONE week before the deadline. It was quite a stressful and sleepless period for me, as my housemate can testify. Those of you who know me well enough know how I often sigh as an expression of my feelings, and how they vary in volume and duration depending on what emotion they are expressing – be they contentment (especially after a delish meal), resignation, frustration, etc… Well, my sighs were of the loud and extended ‘SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!’ sort, repeated many times each day, during the week I was rushing my essay, so you can imagine how I felt…

I was at a loss for words many times during the writing process, unable to put down in specific, well-phrased sentences what I wanted to say, usually because I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to say in the first place! But God was just so supercalifragilisticexpialadocious-ly wonderful in helping me to churn the essay out. When I read the final version through, I can clearly spot the fingerprints of God, because they were the best written portions (I say this with all humility – all praise be to Him alone). Because I started later than I should, I was actually late in handing in my essay, so I also had to contend with the possibility of having marks deducted, since there were penalties for late submission, number of marks deducted depending on the degree of lateness in submission, according to university regulations. So, despite trying my best to write a good essay during that one week, I thought I might not be able to achieve the target I set for myself for every module, since as mentioned, I started late and I handed my essay in late. My target was at least 70%, or according to University of Melbourne’s grading system, I must get at least a H2B (2nd Class Honours Div B, 70-74%), if possible, a H2A (2nd Class Honours Div A, 75-79%) or best of all, a H1 (1st Class Honours,80-100%).

Before and after I submitted my essay, I prayed to God, apologising first of all for not practising the spirit of excellence He has given in the Holy Spirit who lives in me and allowing procrastination and lack of discipline to get the better of me. Among others, I also prayed for mercy and grace, acknowledging that I do not deserve the grades I desire, and asking for them anyway because God is greater than my weaknesses, so that I can testify, not only of His awesome power, but more of His loving kindness.

SO… here I am, filled with gratitude & gladness because I’ve gotten a H2A!!! I’m not sure if my tutor chose or forgot to penalise me, or the grade is after he has already penalised me, which means the paper may be actually good enough to garner a H1??? The main thing is, GOD PROVIDED AND GOD BLESSED, PRAISED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!!!!! Oh, and did I mention this essay is worth 50% of the entire module? I’m currently preparing my second essay for this module, another 4000 word essay (together with a paper for another module, which is to be 6000 words long), also worth 50%. The deadline is at the beginning of June, so this time round, I’ve given myself more time to get it done, so I’ll get it done with excellence!!!

My beloved siblings in Christ reading this, please pray that I’ll honour God, as well as honour the trust my parents have placed in me to make the most of this year abroad, in every way, ok? In the area of studies, I really want to see a column of H1s for every module that will be in my academic transcript.

Hoorayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy… I’m gonna celebrate!!! Especially with Mary, who is gonna be in Melbourne this weekend with her sister and brother-in-law =) Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!