…pretend to have read the reading and prayed you wouldn’t be cold-called.
...PRETEND TO HAVE READ THE READING AND PRAYED YOU WOULDN’T BE COLD-CALLED.
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Let's be honest. We all did it, didn't we? That heart-pounding moment when the professor’s eyes scanned the room, seeking a victim. Your mind raced, desperately recalling any obscure detail from the 200-page text you barely skimmed, or let’s be real, only glanced at the chapter titles.
We perfected the art of selective listening, nodding sagely as if profound insights were uttered, all while mentally crafting a brilliant, vague answer just in case. The classic "active participation" without having read a single word. It was a high-stakes performance, a daily gamble against the dreaded cold-call.
Remember the unique blend of terror and relief when someone else was called? Or the adrenaline of successfully bluffing your way through? This wasn't laziness; it was survival. Readings were endless, time a luxury. We juggled coursework, extracurriculars, social lives, and maybe, just maybe, a few hours of sleep.
This isn't guilt; it's a shared memory, a quiet nod among those who walked these halls. A testament to our ingenuity and adaptability. We learned not just from books, but from navigating unspoken academic survival rules. We emerged resourceful, resilient. Did you even go if you didn't?