The importance of not being late

A week ago on Saturday was the first class for one of my classes, I was late! Drove the car like mad. Got into the parking area. Grabbed my bag(s) and quickly made my way to class. The door to the classroom was wide open, so I straight away walked in. The lecturer’s voice was booming from the front, and I tried to quietly tiptoe between the chairs and table to find an empty space (“X’cuse me, sorry..”).

Fiuh! found one empty seat and sat down. “Amboi ramai jugak dalam class ni” said to myself. Was nearly 40 people in the class.

Opened my notepad, pen poised and I was trying to catch what the lecturer was explaining, but it sounded a lot like Islamic economics from the distribution and supply point of view. “Hey, wait a minute, I think I’m in the wrong class” “Oh great just great” I looked in the timetable list. But there is only my class scheduled for this slot. So what class is this?

As I sat there half listening, half thinking about how to exit from the class. At the corner of my eye, I caught a figure – standing by the door entrance. Oh it Mat! One of the staff there. He was mouthing “Kelas ni ke?” I mouthed back ”Tak, Shariah“. He mouthed again “Keluar lah” whilst gesturing with his left hand. I mouthed “Its ok”.

Truth was, I had made quite an entrance with being late and all, and stepping on peoples’ bags etc just now. I didn’t feel right to make an exit right away, more so as the lecturer was animatedly explaining his point to the class. Yikes!

Some many many minutes later….Tea break time! Great! The lecturer was still carrying on giving a few reminders…Avoiding any eye contact, head bowed down, I quickly made my way out of the class, weaving past the chairs and tables, careful not to swing someones head with my bag(s)…darn a pair of shoes standing in my way, blocking my only exit, looked up and he smiled “Ni kelas PHD ke?” “Err..tak tahu, saya pun salah kelas nih” Smiled apologetically, quick exit.

Got into the correct classroom, I asked this time to one of the guys near the entrance – ok! Found an empty seat. Alhamdulillah. Class resumed a few minutes later. Alamak! its the guy I bumped into earlier – same class as me? Oh no! He must think that I’m a ditzy girl!*sigh*

Eventually, I found out that yes, I had in fact sat in the PhD class earlier.

Reminder to self: don’t be late again. don’t barge into classes. promise!