This semester I have taken five classes. Every. Single. One. of my classes took attendance. Not only was attendance taken, but missing a certain amount of classes would hurt my grade.

This concept still surprises the heck out of me! Why does attendance still matter in college?

I also want to put on record that I actually go to class.

I wanted to include this little fact so people do not get the impression that I am lazy and don't actually care about my classes. I go to class. I have not missed a class this semester. Say what you want, missing class just isn't my thing.

Now, you might be wondering, "Well, since you don't miss class, why do you care about attendance?" Well, the reason I care is that on some days, going to class can be harder than others. There are some days it really would have been beneficial for me to skip a class, but I didn't want my grade to suffer.

First, let me say, I'M PAYING FOR THE DAMN CLASS!

If I don't show up, that's my money being wasted, and the professor gets paid either way. It should be my choice anyway since it's MY money. If there are people that do not want to try, then that's on them, but mandatory attendance will not make them try any harder. If I choose not to come to class, that's on me and that's my problem to handle. Why am I being punished for not attending a class I paid for?

Do professors not get that sometimes life just happens?

There are days when I get sick and can't go to class. There are days where I feel stressed or run down and I just need a day to breathe. There are days where I have a million other projects or papers due on the same day. Life happens outside of that one class. Sometimes you do need to prioritize other things like classes, work, family, and even yourself.

If I am sick, I shouldn't have to debate whether or not to go to class because skipping will affect my grade. On some days, not going to class is the best option and I shouldn't be penalized for that.

Don't start me on "excused" absences.

Proving that my absence was "excusable" is a whole other issue. I need to prove everything! From a doctor's note to a pamphlet from a funeral I attended, it's too much. If I have a fever, I am not going to immediately run to the emergency room, but I'm also not going to go to class either. Proving that you were absent for a reason that the university finds acceptable is ridiculous and more complicated than it needs to be.

Some classes are a waste of my time.

I'm talking about the teachers that stand up there reading the PowerPoints they posted online. The teachers that go on meaningless rants and get completely off-topic during class. The teachers that just don't teach in a way that is best for me. Those are the classes where I don't feel it is a necessity to attend class every time.

If you are just going to read slides that I have access to, then why do I have to be there? If I can take notes in my room or teach myself the material better than the teacher, then why do I have to come?

I'm not trying to say that me not learning the best in class is the teacher's fault. There are some teaching methods that I know don't work for me and that's okay. I just wish my grade wasn't going to suffer from it.

Overall, I wish professors understood what it was like to be a college student these days.

Being a college student is hard, people. There is a lot going on and there is a lot that us college students are responsible for. Some of us are working, running clubs, on sporting teams, taking care of our family, and so much more. Every student is different and every student has a different life outside of class. Life doesn't stop and sometimes class is not the most important thing.

I wish my only responsibility in life right now was just focusing on school, but it's not that simple. I just wish that attendance wasn't something else I had to worry about.