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rainbowfic2012-10-09 11:05 am
kay_brooke) wrote in rainbowfic2012-10-09 11:05 am
Beige #13, Ember #20, Harvest Gold #2
Name: kay_brooke
Story: Unusual Florida
Colors: Beige #13 (mouse), Ember #20 (salamander), Harvest Gold #2 (back to school)
Styles/Supplies: Canvas, Pastels toorigfic_bingo card prompt "pride"
Word Count: 1,116
Rating/Warnings: PG-13; no standard warnings apply
Summary: Amy in biology class.
Note: Constructive criticism is welcome, either through comments or PM.
"Metazoa, chordata, subphylum vertebrata." Dr. Rosenthal wrote on the overhead as she talked. "More commonly known as--" Her eyes searched the room. "Mr. Tan?"
Chris blinked. "Uh, animals."
"Correct, though I'm looking for something a little more specific." Dr. Rosenthal waited, her eyebrows raised. Chris shrugged and made a show of flipping through his textbook. Ann Marie, right next to him, raised her hand.
"Ms. Wilson?"
"Animals with backbones. Vertebrates," said Ann Marie, giving the professor a wide smile.
Amy sighed and rested her head on her hand. She couldn't keep her eyes from straying to the clock set over the doorway to the lecture hall. Forty-five more minutes until this tedious lecture was over, and after that only one more class until fall break. She had nothing against Dr. Rosenthal, who was a good teacher who had actually learned the names of every student in her lecture. But Amy resented having to take the class: Zoology 131, basic beginner's stuff, one of the largest lecture halls on campus, and stuffed full of non-majors who were only there for a GE credit.
And Ann Marie Wilson, stinking the place up with her brown nosing. There were two hundred people in the lecture, but it hadn't taken a week for Amy to pick her out as a potential rival. They were both pre-med, they were both determined to distinguish themselves in their classes. The only difference was that Ann Marie had a lot more experience with distinguishing herself. She'd come in with every AP credit under the sun, the credentials of a prestigious private high school where she'd graduated as valedictorian (she liked reminding people of that), and two medical doctors for parents.
Amy hated her.
The lecture was ridiculously simple. Amy had taught herself the classification system when she was in middle school. It was a waste of time to go over it again, but it had to be done for the non-majors who didn't care anyway.
Amy hated being a freshman.
"Next week, after fall break, you'll all be assigned dissections in your lab sections," Dr. Rosenthal said. Amy forced herself to pay attention. "All the major classes in subphylum vertebrata will be represented." On the overhead she wrote lamprey, horn shark, bluegill, tiger salamander, bullfrog, gecko, garter snake, box turtle, turkey buzzard, chicken, rabbit, cat. "Your lab groups and animal have already been assigned. After the lecture please come up front to pick up your assignment, which will include your lab partner, information about your animal, and what you should be looking for during the dissection."
Amy sat up a little straighter. This was more relevant to her interests. She had never dissected anything in high school, and she needed to know the basics for her career. Dr. Rosenthal continued her lecture, focusing on the particulars of the animals they were going to dissect, while Amy willed for the clock to move just a little faster.
She got swept up in the rush to the front after Dr. Rosenthal called an end to the class, and with everyone grabbing for the paper with their name on it, it took her a few minutes to find her own. She pulled it free and stepped back to take a look, a frown creasing her forehead.
Her partner was Chris Tan. Fantastic. Could be worse, though. At least she hadn't been paired up with Ann Marie. But that wasn't her main concern. Her animal, the sheet proclaimed in bold letters, was Petromyzon marinus. She didn't recognize the species off hand, but there was a picture included.
"Excuse me, Dr. Rosenthal," she said, coming up to the podium after most of the rest of the class had cleared out. "It says here I've been assigned the lamprey."
"Yes?" said Dr. Rosenthal, clearly puzzled.
"But I'm pre-med," said Amy. "Wouldn't it be more useful if I got to dissect something closer to human physiology? Like one of the mammals?"
"The animals were randomly assigned," said Dr. Rosenthal. "If you have an issue with the dissection itself, we can discuss virtual alternatives."
"No, I'm fine with dissecting," said Amy. "I just...would rather not do a lamprey. How's that going to help me in medical school?"
"Ms. Breaker, you are a college freshman," said Dr. Rosenthal, regarding Amy over the top of her reading glasses. "I assure you, this is far from the only opportunity you will have to learn practical anatomy. This is just the foundation for later classes, if you choose to continue with your current major."
Amy almost asked why Dr. Rosenthal was insinuating that she wasn't going to continue in pre-med, but she told herself the professor meant nothing by it, and continued on to her next question. "But could you just switch me to one of the mammals? Please? I'd really appreciate it."
Dr. Rosenthal sighed. "How is that fair to the other students? Almost everyone has a preference. Some animals are obviously more popular than others. That's why we assign randomly."
"I just don't want to be at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the pre-med class," said Amy, barely holding back the frustration she felt. Ann Marie probably got assigned a mammal.
"This will in no way put you at a disadvantage," said Dr. Rosenthal. "I'm late for a meeting. Please come to my office hours if you'd like to discuss any concerns with the class, but I'm afraid the assignments for this project are final."
"Please," said Amy. "I just don't want to start out my college career lagging behind my classmates--"
Dr. Rosenthal took her glasses off and slipped them into a quilted holder. "As I've told you, this one assignment does not determine your future success. Everyone, regardless of profession, will be asked to do things they don't want to do. Things they feel a waste of time. They still have to do them. Now is a good time to learn that lesson, Ms. Breaker. Now, I really do need to get to my meeting." Giving Amy a nod, she picked up her folder of lecture notes and left the hall.
Amy stood silent for a moment, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. Not only had she made a fool of herself in front of Dr. Rosenthal, she hadn't even managed to get a new assignment. Clutching her paper tightly, she waited long enough to make sure the professor was long gone--how embarrassing would it be to run into her in the hallway?--took a deep breath, and continued on to her next class.
kay_brookeStory: Unusual Florida
Colors: Beige #13 (mouse), Ember #20 (salamander), Harvest Gold #2 (back to school)
Styles/Supplies: Canvas, Pastels to
origfic_bingo card prompt "pride"Word Count: 1,116
Rating/Warnings: PG-13; no standard warnings apply
Summary: Amy in biology class.
Note: Constructive criticism is welcome, either through comments or PM.
"Metazoa, chordata, subphylum vertebrata." Dr. Rosenthal wrote on the overhead as she talked. "More commonly known as--" Her eyes searched the room. "Mr. Tan?"
Chris blinked. "Uh, animals."
"Correct, though I'm looking for something a little more specific." Dr. Rosenthal waited, her eyebrows raised. Chris shrugged and made a show of flipping through his textbook. Ann Marie, right next to him, raised her hand.
"Ms. Wilson?"
"Animals with backbones. Vertebrates," said Ann Marie, giving the professor a wide smile.
Amy sighed and rested her head on her hand. She couldn't keep her eyes from straying to the clock set over the doorway to the lecture hall. Forty-five more minutes until this tedious lecture was over, and after that only one more class until fall break. She had nothing against Dr. Rosenthal, who was a good teacher who had actually learned the names of every student in her lecture. But Amy resented having to take the class: Zoology 131, basic beginner's stuff, one of the largest lecture halls on campus, and stuffed full of non-majors who were only there for a GE credit.
And Ann Marie Wilson, stinking the place up with her brown nosing. There were two hundred people in the lecture, but it hadn't taken a week for Amy to pick her out as a potential rival. They were both pre-med, they were both determined to distinguish themselves in their classes. The only difference was that Ann Marie had a lot more experience with distinguishing herself. She'd come in with every AP credit under the sun, the credentials of a prestigious private high school where she'd graduated as valedictorian (she liked reminding people of that), and two medical doctors for parents.
Amy hated her.
The lecture was ridiculously simple. Amy had taught herself the classification system when she was in middle school. It was a waste of time to go over it again, but it had to be done for the non-majors who didn't care anyway.
Amy hated being a freshman.
"Next week, after fall break, you'll all be assigned dissections in your lab sections," Dr. Rosenthal said. Amy forced herself to pay attention. "All the major classes in subphylum vertebrata will be represented." On the overhead she wrote lamprey, horn shark, bluegill, tiger salamander, bullfrog, gecko, garter snake, box turtle, turkey buzzard, chicken, rabbit, cat. "Your lab groups and animal have already been assigned. After the lecture please come up front to pick up your assignment, which will include your lab partner, information about your animal, and what you should be looking for during the dissection."
Amy sat up a little straighter. This was more relevant to her interests. She had never dissected anything in high school, and she needed to know the basics for her career. Dr. Rosenthal continued her lecture, focusing on the particulars of the animals they were going to dissect, while Amy willed for the clock to move just a little faster.
She got swept up in the rush to the front after Dr. Rosenthal called an end to the class, and with everyone grabbing for the paper with their name on it, it took her a few minutes to find her own. She pulled it free and stepped back to take a look, a frown creasing her forehead.
Her partner was Chris Tan. Fantastic. Could be worse, though. At least she hadn't been paired up with Ann Marie. But that wasn't her main concern. Her animal, the sheet proclaimed in bold letters, was Petromyzon marinus. She didn't recognize the species off hand, but there was a picture included.
"Excuse me, Dr. Rosenthal," she said, coming up to the podium after most of the rest of the class had cleared out. "It says here I've been assigned the lamprey."
"Yes?" said Dr. Rosenthal, clearly puzzled.
"But I'm pre-med," said Amy. "Wouldn't it be more useful if I got to dissect something closer to human physiology? Like one of the mammals?"
"The animals were randomly assigned," said Dr. Rosenthal. "If you have an issue with the dissection itself, we can discuss virtual alternatives."
"No, I'm fine with dissecting," said Amy. "I just...would rather not do a lamprey. How's that going to help me in medical school?"
"Ms. Breaker, you are a college freshman," said Dr. Rosenthal, regarding Amy over the top of her reading glasses. "I assure you, this is far from the only opportunity you will have to learn practical anatomy. This is just the foundation for later classes, if you choose to continue with your current major."
Amy almost asked why Dr. Rosenthal was insinuating that she wasn't going to continue in pre-med, but she told herself the professor meant nothing by it, and continued on to her next question. "But could you just switch me to one of the mammals? Please? I'd really appreciate it."
Dr. Rosenthal sighed. "How is that fair to the other students? Almost everyone has a preference. Some animals are obviously more popular than others. That's why we assign randomly."
"I just don't want to be at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the pre-med class," said Amy, barely holding back the frustration she felt. Ann Marie probably got assigned a mammal.
"This will in no way put you at a disadvantage," said Dr. Rosenthal. "I'm late for a meeting. Please come to my office hours if you'd like to discuss any concerns with the class, but I'm afraid the assignments for this project are final."
"Please," said Amy. "I just don't want to start out my college career lagging behind my classmates--"
Dr. Rosenthal took her glasses off and slipped them into a quilted holder. "As I've told you, this one assignment does not determine your future success. Everyone, regardless of profession, will be asked to do things they don't want to do. Things they feel a waste of time. They still have to do them. Now is a good time to learn that lesson, Ms. Breaker. Now, I really do need to get to my meeting." Giving Amy a nod, she picked up her folder of lecture notes and left the hall.
Amy stood silent for a moment, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. Not only had she made a fool of herself in front of Dr. Rosenthal, she hadn't even managed to get a new assignment. Clutching her paper tightly, she waited long enough to make sure the professor was long gone--how embarrassing would it be to run into her in the hallway?--took a deep breath, and continued on to her next class.
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