At this time in the semester, we're all panicking and beginning to calculate our grades. "How poorly can I do on this paper and still pass?" we all say. We scramble to find those syllabi we tossed into a drawer in our desk after the first week, doing more algebra than high school us thought we would. However, the answer to how to succeed in our classes isn't buried beneath honor codes and attendance polices. It's actually found on the front page, under "Office Hours."

At many colleges and universities, professors are required to have open office hours, where they sit in their office to give students a chance to seek their aid. Here at Stetson, we take pride in having professors who are incredibly invested in our learning and our well-being as people. So why are our professors so often left in absolute boredom and solitude when it comes time for them to interact with students?

There are times where I, avoiding homework by meandering around campus, decide to pop into a professor’s office hours, just to chat. And you know what? I’ll sit there for the entire hour they’re in their office with no one else bothering to come by. We’ll just sit there, shooting the breeze and talking about our favorite TV shows. It’s an incredibly pleasant and relaxing experience. So why do students not take advantage of this?

My assumption, based on numerous conversations and random, informal polls I’ve conducted amongst students, is that it’s awkward, and takes too much of their time that could be spent doing other things (like watching Netflix, I suppose). However, I argue that spending time bonding with your professors is something that’s incredibly beneficial to not only your academic career but to your personal growth as well.

Oftentimes, the conversations I have with my professors eventually turn to how crucial they find these discussions and bonding moments like them when it comes time to write letters of recommendation. I mean, just think about it: how can they possibly recommend someone they don’t know? Many times, my friends ask me who to go to for letters because they’ve never bonded with their professors. What am I to tell them? My go to answer is always, “Who’s office hours do you go to?” And all too often, the answer is, “None.” This could all be avoided by simply visiting your professors every once in a while.

Furthermore, have you considered the potential for finding a mentor? “A mentor?” I hear you say, “Why would I need a mentor?” Let me counter with: why wouldn’t you? I’ve had countless experiences of going to a professor and asking about almost anything, from personal advice on relationships, to conflicts between friends, to study tips. (Because who would know how to study better than someone with a doctorate, teaching the very subject they had to learn?) Hell, I’ve even gotten advice on how to cram on a subject I hated, and how to wash a feisty dog, in the same sitting. My point here is, there’s nothing wrong with looking for wisdom from someone who’s had more time and experiences to accrue it. That’s not being a kiss-up. It’s using your resources wisely.

Although, if you do want to be a brown-noser, you could always pursue that. There’s no harm in brownie points! Even I’ve cashed in on the accidental brownie point a few times, in the form of assignment extensions or extra points on exams because the question was unclear. But, you know what? There were earned. Because I had built a relationship with my professor, they trusted me and allowed me that chance to prove myself further. They were aware enough of my skills and desire to succeed in their class that they were willing to help me out.

So, Stetson students, I hope that you visit your professors. There’s so much you can gain from these relationships, and all you need to do is invest some of your time. I know time is in short supply, especially around this time in the semester, but it’s so worth it. Just this week, I felt the need to visit my Spanish professor. We’ve talked before, but I had been missing class recently, and wanted to make sure that I was caught up. In the end, she ended up telling me techniques she used when learning English, to help me study for her class. And you know what? I feel so much better and much more ready to prepare for her class. So, in a time so filled with stress, do yourself a favor and just stop by for a minute or two. Your grades, and your professor, will thank you.