It has been completed – this dream of my life; then why am I so filled with anxiety rather than joy?
I made it through high school by cheating; there was no other way I could do it. Even though I was intelligent, my absences prevented my learning and the cheating “skill”
was honed and easier than cramming for tests. I got a boost into college; the boost was called “diversity” and academic requirements were somewhat ignored. The habit was set, I scooted through college with a degree in architectural design.
This is my first project and I am scared.
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PHOTO PROMPT © Jilly Funell
This post fulfills requirements for two challenged: Friday Fictioneers (100 words) https://rochellewisoff.com/
and the Six Sentence Challenge using the prompt word “requirements” by
https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/
About oneta hayes
ABOUT ME
Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
Sweet aroma 
Is she scared of failure? Or of being responsible for a disaster?
My “author” felt that she was afraid of being responsible for a disaster. 😀
Interesting. My cousin, an engineer, wasn’t one who scooted through school, but your little story reminded me of one of his experiences. He worked on the walkway of the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City — the one that collapsed. Even though he wasn’t responsible, and his work wasn’t directly connected with the walkway, it shook him up pretty badly.
It would be scary to me to have that kind of responsibility. I have the same kind of anxiety over the years I had influence on children. Oh, that I did not do harm!
Who knows? Maybe the apprehension will make her buckle down and do a good job? I hope so, anyway.
She can only do the job with as much knowledge as she has. Is it enough? I’m not sure. I do think she wants to do a good job. I charge the schools with having failed her.
A rather belated pang of conscience, don’t you think? But chances are, such a creative and successful cheater learned more than she gives herself credit for. Morally corrupt, perhaps, but youve got to admire her moxie.
The mention of “diversity” takes us into dogwhistle territory for those who oppose affirmative action in education, in the political space. It implies she got in solely on the basis of her race, while her other qualifications were too weak to take her over the mark. You may get pushback on this.
I expected some. I know it is not PC; however, I gave her some benefits by saying she was “behind” on her grades because of absences, which I suppose were unavoidable, and I also said she was intelligent. However, I am opposed to lowering academic standards to help the “diverse.” I think it is the same as saying “here I’ll help you because you are not capable of doing it all by yourself.” To me, that is racism. When I look at other races as being as good as myself, I don’t see why give them extra to overcome their “deficiency.” The ones I know don’t need that coddling. I do believe in giving help because of social deprivations, but not by lowering standards of achievement. With my heroine, I believe the school system should provide some means of tutoring to bring her up to standard. Probably wouldn’t take much given how intelligent she was. 😀 She obviously was highly intelligent and creative and she does have a moral conscience or she would have walked away with no qualms. She was quite a girl, actually; with a public school education that failed her all the way around. My opinion of public schools also. Someplace along the line someone knew she was cheating but did not want to deal with it. This from experience!
Sorry. We live in a world full of “trigger words” and that’s one. The beauty of this group is that everyone comes to it with different life experiences. We are writing fiction, so our stories don’t have to be “politically correct” but we’re also on the internet, so there may be he** to pay if they push somebody’s buttons. As long as you know what you’re doing. 😊
You are right. Thank you. I might decide to use our conversation to write a series of “Why I am not PC.” That would set some folks off. I’ll be watching for you Friday Fictioneers. 😀
Likewise!😊
The truth will come out… either she truly is naturally brilliant and gets it done, or she fails miserably… I am hoping for the former.
I’m hoping she gets into a firm where she can team with others. She probably would have a lot to offer, and she might gain confidence and learn bits of knowledge which she may have missed. 😀
Absolutely! Think “The Apprentice” with Robert DeNiro 😉
Guess I need to see it. Assuming of course that this was before the Robert DeNiro I now can’t stand! 😀
Actually… totally wrong reference!!
Beyond my experience! 😀 Should I say “out of my zone?”
Nah… I just realised I was in left field…
What a mess she is in and no easy way out. Interesting take on the prompt.
Thank you. Maybe she can marry an architect and they will open their own firm. Oh, my, here I have my heroine needing a man. No! I get more Politically Incorrect every time I open my mouth. 😀
This is a thought-provoking piece of writing. Thank you. I’m grateful I am in trouble every time I write BUT I will not walk the road of political correctness or compromise in my life. I write and I will continue to write from my perspective and all the Shes and Hes and Mums and Dads and all the other stuff must come second. For the women who allowed the FEMINIST deception to blind then history will prove that society truly becomes screwed when men and women do not take and aspire to live their RIGHT places in society. As equals where each NEEDS the other…..far far beyond and above anything sexual. Incomprehensible to the deception blinded. but it is the TRUTH.
“as equals where each needs the other” and honors each other for their innate traits.
Very interesting piece. Sadly, many people get by with cheating.
Too true. In the end, one often regrets not taking advantage of one’s youth and a chance to learn. Too many teachers are just relieved that the kid is not causing trouble and let it continue.
She is scared because she does not know much about her project? This time there is no scope to cheat, she has to do everything on her own.
School is the time to get a solid foundation.
I had a client once, a nurse, who confessed to me that she had cheated through high school and nursing school. She lived every day in fear of making a life-changing error. Your story is more real than people may think!
Ouch! Thanks for your input. When we get older we find out how much we wasted our youth, don’t we?
Confession and new career time. An architect has huge responsibility and she’s a fake. Glad this is fiction!
Yes, but did you notice the comment above by granonine. That is scary also.
Nicely done, you can only wing it for so long
The cheating thing is much too real. I doubt many make it this far, but too many get through high school that way. Thanks for the comment.
Very well-written & thought-provoking.
Thank you.