Plenty of students arrive to college not knowing what they want to do, and I completely understand that. I thought I wanted to do something within the medical field until I didn't. It wasn't my passion and I certainly knew that. Now I'm happy to say that I have found my place in college being an English major. I step into my classes confident and ready to learn, which didn't happen when going into my science classes. All this is to say that I found my passion and I intend to continue and succeed in my classes. However, there is one problem that I face in some of my classes: other students who don't put in the same effort that I do. While it may seem like it doesn't affect those who actually want to be there, it does.
One of the biggest ways that students who don't pay attention or don't put enough effort into their classes affect those that do is during group work. So many professors expect everyone to work with each other, but how can we when one person slacks off to give everyone else the work? Worse than anything is that they also complain about either the work, the professor or the other things that bother them about the class. So I ask myself, why bother being in this class, let alone this major, if you're going to complain? If it is not something you enjoy sitting through and learning about, then please do us the favor of dropping the class.
Another thing that hinders the focused students is constructive criticism. In class, especially in a literature class, students feed off of corrections and outside opinions of their work in order to do better for next time. It is just the way writing works. Therefore, when students give little to no feedback, it jeopardizes our work more than you think.
Now, although it may not affect those who are paying attention but rather the professor lecturing us, I find it extremely inappropriate when students are on their phones while the professor is speaking. Yes, it's alright to check the time once in a while, but if you're sitting in the front row on your phone, disregarding the professor completely, then you might as well not be in class. I'm more than positive that you have free time after class to be doing that, rather than in the classroom.
As much as I would hope students would choose something they enjoy and put their utmost effort into it, I can't expect everyone to do this. That is why I stress to other students to make sure they know what they're getting into and to make sure they love what they're getting into, because our education is what we will contribute to the world. And if you don't believe in and love what you do, then you're not doing yourself, or the world, justice.
