If you're anything like me, you know the impending feeling of doom when a professor explains how "class participation" will play a huge part in determining your final grade. It's not that you inherently dislike the class or the professor, but if you're on the quiet side and only feel it necessary to participate in class when you feel that you have something of importance to say, this can ultimately feel like a slap in the face.
No matter how much homework you hand in on time or essays you score well on, the dreaded participation grade will consistently be a source of anxiety and annoyance in your academic life.
For example...
1. When you genuinely have nothing else to say.
"It's not my fault that I have no new thoughts on the topic. Any opinions I hold have already either been expressed by another student or blatantly stated by the professor. Why waste my breath and everyone else's time re-stating the same ideas we've already heard?"
2. When you raise your hand to speak but someone else shouts out the answer before you.
**Death stare engaged**
"Look, this takes a lot for me to volunteer my thoughts in class. Can you please just be respectful and wait your turn?"
Or even worse,
3. When you're already speaking and someone interrupts you.
"Again, what exactly is so hard about waiting your turn? Do you really enjoy the sound of your own voice that much that you couldn't wait until I was finished with my thought and simply had to blurt out whatever came to you at that exact moment?
Unless there is a visible beam of light over your head and a chorus of angels descends from the Heavens, I really don't think that whatever you have to say was so important that you had to interrupt me."
4. The occasional satisfying moment when the professor calls out the person that interrupted you.
"See? They get it. Now just stay in your lane next time and let me finish my damn thought. There's a reason why I was called on because I indicated I wanted to speak with this cool new signal called raising my hand."
5. Or the frustrating moment when the professor continues the conversation with the person who interrupted you.
"Honestly, why do I even try? Just end my suffering now."
6. Going up to your professor after class to ask them if there's any more you could be doing...
"Look at me being such a responsible student and holding myself accountable for my own grades. Surely they'll admire that even though I'm quiet in class I had the courage to come up and talk to them afterward."
7. ...but being sorely disappointed when all they say is, "You could participate in class discussions a little bit more."
"Really? People get credit for shouting out the same observations over and over again, but when I wait to say something and am then interrupted or not called on that means I'm the one that could be doing more?"
8. So then you vent to someone you trust and after fantasizing about slamming the interrupter's head into a wall...
"See this? This is how I feel when you don't let me finish my thoughts in class!"
9. ...and afterwards you feel a little bit better and decide to work on your shortcomings to be a better student.
"Maybe I should try just calling out answers despite ever fiber in my body that tells me to raise my hand first."
