(Recently I read a story written by a student of the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). The uniqueness of the story was that it was written entirely using questions. I had never come across anything like this before. It made a profound impact on me - both the style of writing and the story. Unfortunately, I didn't save a copy, and the Google group where I read it no longer exists. Not wanting it to be forgotten, I am writing it down here, to the best of my efforts, in the same style. If anybody can locate the original story, please leave a comment)
(Plagiarism Clarification - In short, this story is not my original. I'm posting it because I liked it. Full credit to the original poster. For those who would accuse me of plagiarism: I couldn't cite the link because the source doesn't exist anymore.)
How bad would you feel is you missed a test? How bad would you feel if you missed it because you came 15 minutes late? How much more bad would it be, if you were there in the institute all day long (and had come specially for this class), and then came late? And that you were late not because it took time to travel from home, but because you were a bit careless?
How nervous would you be if you woke up and realized that you are not at home but in the lab? How much more, if you realized that the class had started 15 minutes before? How stupid would you feel descending the steps to the floor below and walking up to the door of the class? How ashamed would you feel pushing open the door, facing the course instructor, looking up at his face and asking permission to come in?
How sad would you feel when you saw his tired and disappointed face? How shocking would it be to find out that he had planned a surprise test for that class, on which he had spent so much effort designing? And a kind of test which you yourself liked very much? How hurting it would be to hear the fact that you wouldn't be allowed to give the test? That you would have to leave it this time?
How angry would you feel on hearing this? How mad would you be at the whole world? How fed up would you be with yourself for missing something you loved? And that too just because you were working hard last night and didn't get a chance to sleep?
How sorry would you feel meeting him after the class is over? How surprised would you be to see that he is not angry with you at all? That despite your own mistake, he is ready to forgive you and forget this incident as if it never happened? And he encourages you to think ahead and not give much importance to that which is past?
How reassured would you feel when he suggests you to try all the questions (even though it would not be graded)? And he smiles at you and gives you a printed copy of the test when you merely requested a soft copy?
How glad would you feel to find out that he is a rare person who cares so much about you and your future? One who feels that it is more important to learn and know the subject than merely perform? One who understands your passion and commitment to learn and encourages you to stick to it? And finally, one who realizes how much you would have loved giving the test and lets you do so (although officially it would be ungraded)?
How happy would you feel to realize that he is the rare person who believes in you and appreciates you as you are?
How lucky and fortunate would you consider yourself to have an instructor like him?
(Plagiarism Clarification - In short, this story is not my original. I'm posting it because I liked it. Full credit to the original poster. For those who would accuse me of plagiarism: I couldn't cite the link because the source doesn't exist anymore.)
How bad would you feel is you missed a test? How bad would you feel if you missed it because you came 15 minutes late? How much more bad would it be, if you were there in the institute all day long (and had come specially for this class), and then came late? And that you were late not because it took time to travel from home, but because you were a bit careless?
How nervous would you be if you woke up and realized that you are not at home but in the lab? How much more, if you realized that the class had started 15 minutes before? How stupid would you feel descending the steps to the floor below and walking up to the door of the class? How ashamed would you feel pushing open the door, facing the course instructor, looking up at his face and asking permission to come in?
How sad would you feel when you saw his tired and disappointed face? How shocking would it be to find out that he had planned a surprise test for that class, on which he had spent so much effort designing? And a kind of test which you yourself liked very much? How hurting it would be to hear the fact that you wouldn't be allowed to give the test? That you would have to leave it this time?
How angry would you feel on hearing this? How mad would you be at the whole world? How fed up would you be with yourself for missing something you loved? And that too just because you were working hard last night and didn't get a chance to sleep?
How sorry would you feel meeting him after the class is over? How surprised would you be to see that he is not angry with you at all? That despite your own mistake, he is ready to forgive you and forget this incident as if it never happened? And he encourages you to think ahead and not give much importance to that which is past?
How reassured would you feel when he suggests you to try all the questions (even though it would not be graded)? And he smiles at you and gives you a printed copy of the test when you merely requested a soft copy?
How glad would you feel to find out that he is a rare person who cares so much about you and your future? One who feels that it is more important to learn and know the subject than merely perform? One who understands your passion and commitment to learn and encourages you to stick to it? And finally, one who realizes how much you would have loved giving the test and lets you do so (although officially it would be ungraded)?
How happy would you feel to realize that he is the rare person who believes in you and appreciates you as you are?
How lucky and fortunate would you consider yourself to have an instructor like him?
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