My Twisted Heart

Chapter Nine

"This is what your semester will look like," Mr. Lewis said, pointing his remote at the projector.

The screen flickered to life, casting a faint glow across the room as the semester's timeline appeared. It was a masterpiece of organization. Each month was divided into tidy columns, with color-coded text marking tests, projects, and deadlines. Red for exams, blue for projects, and yellow for school events. It was the kind of chart that looked like it belonged in a military brief rather than a high school classroom. 

Mr. Lewis tapped the remote, highlighting the red markers on the screen. "First, let's talk about the big tests—midterms and finals... Midterms will take place in early November and will account for 25% of your final grade. These exams will cover everything we've studied in the first half of the semester and set the tone for the rest of the year. It's imperative to realize that a good midterm grade can build momentum, while a weak midterm can put you in a hole that's hard to climb out of, especially with finals waiting at the end of the semester."

Mr. Lewis clicked the remote again, and the screen shifted to December, where a large, bold red marker loomed.

"Final exams will account for 40% of your final grade. Yes, you heard me correctly—40%! That's almost half of your overall grade determined by a single test."  

Mr. Lewis glanced around the room.

"Now, I know 40% sounds like a lot—and it is—but here's the thing: If you've been keeping up all year, the final will reflect that. It's not designed to trip you up. It's designed to reward consistency. But if you've been cutting corners or putting things off until the last minute, it will expose that too."

Mr. Lewis changed the slide.

"To ensure you're all keeping up with the lessons, I've decided to insert pop quizzes into our schedule every two weeks! These quizzes will focus on the most recent topics we've covered and should be straightforward—provided, of course, you keep up with your homework."

A soft groan rippled through the room. It was clear most of the class wasn't intrigued with the news.

"Even though they might not seem important, quizzes can make a difference between a pass or a fail," Mr. Lewis explained. "All together, the quizzes will be worth 15% of your final grade. Missing a few here and there might not seem like a big deal, but it adds up."

I scribbled down "quizzes = 15%" in my notebook and underlined it twice for good measure. Although Mr. Lewis's schedule seemed straightforward, it didn't make it any less daunting. Between the bi-weekly quizzes, the midterms, and the looming finals, it was clear my mornings would be nothing less than hectic.

"Lastly, the remaining 20% of your grade will come from projects and class participation," Mr. Lewis revealed. "Projects will challenge you to think critically and creatively about the material. Class participation—well, that's just about showing up and staying engaged."

The slide faded to black as he turned off the projector. 

"Are there any questions?" Mr. Lewis asked, looking around the room. 

A few hands twitched but stayed down. Most of us just sat there, quietly processing what we'd heard. 

"Alright then, it seems no one has any questions. Perfect," Mr. Lewis said, setting the remote down with a small smile. "Before we head off to lunch, there's one last thing I should've brought up earlier. I'd like each of you to stand up, introduce yourself, and share two interesting facts about who you are."

Crap...

There was a collective murmur as everyone processed his request. While some of my classmates looked excited, I was terrified. If there was anything I struggled with more than socializing, it was public speaking. It was the one thing I dreaded more than anything.