April Fool

So I have this seminar.  It's like twice a month.  

In a nutshell, the seminar is a big waste of my time.

I arrive, with completed work in hand, and listen to my professors on their soap boxes.

My completed work, is never handed in.

Perfect example of a big waste of time.

Because it is such a waste of time I thought I would miss the one before Spring Break.

But because they have never been fully clear on the absence rule, I did a little research before skipping.

I should have done more.

Apparently, you have to do make-up work, which I knew, but asking around I failed to ask those who missed if they actually informed the professors that they were gone, or asked what their make-up work was.

It should have been quite obvious to me that those I asked just didn't follow up and ask about making work up.

I should have done even more research and asked if there was another week that I would want to miss more.

Long story short, the week after I missed the Seminar, Kyle asked if I was going to the Red/White game in Oklahoma. 

Well, it was news to me that I was even included.

I asked what date, knowing in my mind that it would inevitably fall on a day that I had a seminar, and it did.

So, needless to say, I am devastated.  I love going to Oklahoma with them.  Plus, they are staying at Cory's casino he works at, and I have never been to the Red/White game, which is basically just a preview of the team that will be playing in the fall.

I have never seen Oklahoma in the Spring, and I rarely get to be with Kyle's entire family.

What some may not know about me is that I have always wanted a big family.  

I begged my parents for siblings when I was younger, and have always wished that my cousins and I were closer.

The thing is, I am so excited about one day being able to have more family, and I love getting to spend time with Kyle's family and getting to know them more.  Which is why I am so sad that I might not be able to go on the trip.  Cory lives in Oklahoma, and I rarely see him.  I just really want to go.

So here is the current situation.  I e-mailed my professor yesterday, with a really heartfelt e-mail, and I am still waiting on an answer.  It has officially been a day.  The last time I e-mailed this professor, it took two weeks (not exaggerating, I e-mailed her on the 13th, she replied on the 27th) and she only replied after I e-mailed her doctoral student teacher inquiring as to why I had not received a reply.  I even tried e-mailing the same heartfelt e-mail to the doc student first, to see if she would just give me an answer, and she said she couldn't make the decision, that my professor had to. 

Here is the e-mail, I am asking those of you who care an ounce about me to read the e-mail, and also to provide input.  If she says no, I cannot miss, should I risk it and go? 

"Professor Flores-Duenas--

I have a few questions about the seminar.  Now, it was never clearly stated as to how many absences we could acquire for this class.  I have a family trip that is extremely important to me coming up on the 16th of April.  Now, I understood that I would have to do make up if I missed a class, and I am prepared to do so.  However, I had to miss the last seminar due to illness, and am in the process of the make-up work, but am concerned as to what exactly will happen if I miss the seminar on the 16th.  Since having to miss the last one, I have tried to find flights out of ABQ after the seminar on the 16th, to meet up with my family later, and there is nothing out of ABQ after 4:00 p.m.  I am somewhat frustrated because I am trying to weigh my options.  The benefits of seeing my family and being together with them, and what I would miss in those two hours on that Friday.  And, obviously, my family is weighing heavier now.  I just don't want to get to the end of the semester and not pass this class, because of my absences. 

I have tried to figure out a way to get to my family and still attend the seminar, but due to the time of the seminar, this is not working out. I need a little feedback from you.  I have done every assignment, on time.  I do not make a habit of missing class, in fact I have not missed but one class this semester of all my classes, which is way less than most students.  I am willing to turn in the work due on that week early, write a paper, etc.  I guess what I am getting at, is this weekend is extremely important to me as I do not get to see this side of my family often, and I am willing to go above and beyond to make up that Friday of April 16th.  Can you provide me with some guidance?

Thanks, 

Nicole Green"

So, if you have any feedback, or advice, please offer it.  

Should I stay or should I go?

Also, you should know that before the semester began, I contacted this lady about the dates of the seminar because I had a date to go to Oklahoma on the 5th of February.  She gave me the dates, the 5th being one of them, and then told me that they had worked really hard to come up with good information for the seminars and that we would benefit greatly from them.  I canceled on the trip on the 5th, only to go and have it be a waste of my time.  I wholeheartedly disagree that I HAVE not benefited at all from any of the seminars.  You should also know that they are a total of two hours.  Two hours!  And, that most of the two hours is spent with them trying to become organized and figure out what we should be turning in.  It's a joke, a complete joke.

Thanks in advance for your help.