Dear Professors from my school,

I pay to be here. You probably know that. Every semester I take out bank loans for thousands of dollars to be able to attend your class. Even though by the time I obtain my degree I will be swimming in debt, I still want to show up to your class. You might ask why, and it's quite simple: I want my degree. I may not necessarily want to show up to your class, but I will, for the most part. I want to pass your class.

Here at Robert Morris, if I miss 25 percent of the course, I fail. I personally think that’s ridiculous. I pay to be here. If I choose not to show up that’s already my loss. I understand that it is crucial to show up but some days I just can't. Sometimes I'm simply too tired. Sometimes it's zero degrees outside and snowing. Let's not forget that we live in western Pennsylvania! I may have had too much to drink the night before, but whatever the reason may be, when I miss a class, I've missed important information that you wanted to share with me. That's my loss, plain and simple. I don't believe the university should have to punish me further, and, quite honestly, I don't think you should either.

I also don't think it's fair for you to say that I can't have my phone on me. Sometimes I need to be reached. I have emails I need to respond to, just like you do, and there are people that need a reply from me through a text. I understand that this is your time to teach, but sometimes people need to contact me. If I choose to be on my phone instead of listening to you, that's also my loss once again.

You might try to say that this is your class. I agree, it is, but if the students in your class didn’t pay to be here, you wouldn’t have any students to teach your course to.

Sincerely,

Your paying student