Eleven years ago I was a student in a class called "Education and Government" at uni (not the exact name, I'm trying to translate it here, the important thing is it was one of those boring ass classes of the semester). The class was long, and boring, and on Friday evenings which made it even more boring, so I told myself I was going to make the most out of it and I was going to study as much as possible during lectures.
I listened and took notes like never before for that class (it was the only way of making time go faster). I wrote almost everything that was said, even the questions. So by the time I had to sit down to study for the final, I had the best notes I had ever had and I made the best summary I've ever made.
Everything. And I mean EVERYTHING (important) was in that summary. The best part, it wasn't that long. Because most of it was done with the notes so I knew exactly what the professor thought to be important.
A week before the exam, I emailed those notes to a couple of friends that were trying to find some books and struggling with their notes. I remember telling them "Everything's here. Trust me." And they did. We all nailed the final test. I'm talking straight 8, 9 and 10s (you needed a 4 to pass the exam).
The next year, I was at the university printer and some students were photocopying the "Education and Government notes" they called them. I was curious, I paid a look, and to my suprise there was my summary. I was proud and a bit cocky with my friends about it. I had made it to the printer and people who didn't know me were using those notes as if they were something worth having as part of the material.
I remember we all had a good laugh and I thought that was it... until today.
Today I found out those notes are still going around, and people make sure to print them and send them to every person who needs to take that subject. I've been helping people pass the most boring and soul-sucking class of the career for 10 years... And I'm so damn proud of that.
