What is risk?

I attended and graduated from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tenn. (Both the school and the city probably prefer not to be associated with me.)  I needed 6 quarter hours (two classes) to graduate at the end of spring quarter 1977.  It was the '70s, and everyone that knew me then said I had a good time. (I’m glad they remember, because I don’t.)

One of my classes was Marriage and Family Relations. I attended the first class and didn’t go back. By the way, I’ve been married 33 years, so I don’t think I needed to attend any more classes.

My other class was accounting theory. I have always thought this to be a nonsensical class because accountants do not work in theory. They use actual numbers to determine costs, profits, losses, depreciation, etc.

I went into the final exam with an average so low that if I got 100 percent, I could not raise my grade high enough to pass. As the professor instructed us to begin, I turned the paper over and wrote on the front, “Dr. Waters: If you pass me, I promise I’ll never practice accounting. Bill Evans”.  I got up, handed him the exam and left. 

Did I take a risk?

—Bill Evans, president, Evans Glass Co., Nashville   

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