It still feels good to beat the boys.
01/21/2008
My test: 98/100 and 239/250.
I went to a class yesterday and did better than most of the men.
I hate when I walk in the first time somewhere and I am the only girl and the ‘boy talk” starts. I have been doing it for years: started way back in Jr. and Sr. High School. I took wood shop/metal shop/drafting/auto mechanics and electrical shops. The reaction from some of the boys back then hasn’t changed much even today. A bit of snickering, a bit of boasting and bragging and they don’t have the goods to back it up. Of course there are a couple of men that respect the fact that I am their, perhaps surprised, but don’t treat me different, don’t do the snickering and boasting. I like that kind of man, that’s the kind I want to marry.
There was a bit of paperwork first, a short lecture and then it was on to the practical part of the class. I had a little bit of trouble at first; I had an equipment malfunction, but recovered rather quickly. I was trying a new set of stock and it didn’t work. I quickly switched out to the old stock I normally use and I was back on track. I guess that is why I lost a few points, but that’s Ok. I still did well with the stress and my 239 score. I should have gotten a 240-245 that’s my normal range. Once we were done, we were supposed to have someone else score the practical. I guess that was the beginning of my beating the boys yesterday. I had trouble finding someone to sign off and score my test. One of the other men finally jumped in, he was one of the one’s that didn’t snicker. He told me I did a nice job. That felt really good. I managed to return the favor after his test, I scored his: 248/250. I told him he did a great job. Some of the other boys wouldn't let me score their tests. I think they were embarrassed.
We had to spend hours in lectures next. I appreciated the instructors attitude, he was honest, realistic and wasn’t the macho type instructor. He explained things rather well, kept the course on track and kept the macho boasting down to a minimum. I missed one question of the written part of the course. I double checked the answer, I just blew that one, and I don’t know what I was thinking. I managed to get the 98/100 for the written.
I did chat with the instructor a bit after the class. I already knew I had scored 3rd or 4th out of 12 in the class. I know my stuff, it felt good. I am sure some of the ‘egos’ were a little bruised by the end of class, but too bad. Don’t assume because I am a woman, I can’t do as well or better than you can. I am sure the real men didn’t have a problem, just the snickering little boys pretending to be men.
