The history paper [for no_dryer_box]

[cadet_amara]

Amara leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh. She had finally finished her history paper, and it felt great to be done. She had done a lot for this one. Read the research, found specific examples to prove her point, thesis, research, quotations, footnotes, works cited, it was all there. As she read through it again she couldn't help but feel a little proud. She actually sounded like she knew what she was talking about.

It helped she had picked a topic she actually knew a little bit about and was interested in. The Effect of Imperialism on Modern India. Granted she hadn't been to India since she was seven, but it was still home in a way. She got the idea when she couldn't sleep one night and decided to watch an old Bollywood movie and noticed how English words just slipped in seemingly effortlessly with the Hindi.  So... she focused on how Imperialism had such a huge impact on India's culture. It was quite possibly the longest and most detailed paper she ever wrote. She just hoped Admiral Pike liked it.

He had asked her to turn it in face to face. She cringed a little thinking about that because when you're asked to turn something in face to face it's never good. Normally it's so they can point out all the things you did wrong to your face. She wasn't really in the mood to have her work picked apart today, but Admiral Pike had given her until 1700 hours to turn it in so she may as well get it over with.

With a sigh she got up and went to his office. She really hoped he liked the paper... she wasn't in the mood to be criticized.

 

Comments

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She looked down at her hands and blinked rapidly. No matter what she would not cry. She felt so beat down and defeated by everything and didn't feel like there was anyone who would understand where she was coming from. "Yes sir..." She managed to mumble.

She would almost rather be yelled at. At least she knew how to respond to yelling. This she didn't know what to make of, so she sat still, keeping her head down, waiting for him to finish so she could go.

[no-dryer-box.livejournal.com]

"As far as I'm concerned you're performing your assignments with expected accuracy. There is room for improvement and that's what you've been doing."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

Amara had a feeling that was as much encouragement as she was going to get... funny how she didn't feel very inspired or encouraged at all.

Well, she couldn't wilt and back away, and she certainly couldn't keep expressing the feeling of inadequacy and misery she was feeling. Time to put on the good cadet act.

After a second she lifted her eyes back to him, doing her best to keep a neutral expression. "Yes sir. Thank you sir." Her tone was a little... dead... but she figured he probably wouldn't notice.

[no-dryer-box.livejournal.com]

Of course he noticed, there was a reason Starfleet made him the executive recruting officer. He could spot a line of bullshit 20 lightyears away.

"Do you really think I'm just going to buy that and let you walk out of here?"

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

I really hoped you would She thought, sighing a little. "Well... judging by that comment... no sir."

[no-dryer-box.livejournal.com]

"So, since you've done nothing but preform your duties as assigned as well as you can. You're learning, so things aren't perfect and that's fine. That's the point of learning."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you ask me why I 'don't put that much effort into all my work' sir?"

[no-dryer-box.livejournal.com]

"Your written work usually leaves something to be desired."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She took a second to think of a response. Pause. Count to ten. Don't explode again. She told herself.

"I always put all my effort into my work, sir. It just..." She sighed a little, trying to think of how to explain her academic difficulties. "It's all jumbled up... facts... events... people. It's difficult to learn history when the story is so... fragmented."

[no-dryer-box.livejournal.com]

Pike nodded a little, glad she finally gave him something to work with.

"Alright...well...we can do something about that."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"Sort out all of history?" She was feeling overwhelmed again, the very idea made her head swim. Still... if she had to do it she would... she'd find a way to get it done... she just wasn't sure how. The textbooks weren't much help. She never retained information well when she only read it, and that seemed to be the preferred way to study history.

[no-dryer-box.livejournal.com]

"Making a timeline could help, perhaps choose one or two important events and plot them out. This way, when other events reference the ones on the timeline you understand where they fit."

Pike was back to being the helpful instructor.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She nodded a little, thinking that was going to turn into one massive timeline. "Maybe... by region?"

[no-dryer-box.livejournal.com]

"Now you're thinking."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She smiled a little. Maybe it was managable. She was starting to feel a little better now, and saw a small glimmer of hope for once. However, there was still one very big problem. "Sir... I'm still having a hard time with the text. I read it... but I don't retain any of it." Actually, she barely understood it at all, and try as she might she could barely get through a chapter.