When you get to college, one of the overwhelming feelings is that of freedom. You can go out whenever you want, you don't have to go to class, you don't even have to do your homework. You get to decide if the consequences outweigh the benefits, and that can be an exciting thing. Sometimes, however, this newfound freedom can lead to some really annoying behaviors that will infuriate your teacher and peers alike. This is my top-5 list of pet peeves. Be careful about indulging in these behaviors too often, as it can instantly make people, such as myself, think less of you.
1. What you wear to class.
I will be honest, I bum it out in my 8 a.m. classes 9 out of 10 days. When I do dress up like a bum, however, it's still decent. I still put on jeans or sweat pants, a shirt, and usually an oversized sweatshirt. I'm not going to win a fashion show or get a job in that attire, but I will be comfortable without being distracting. While I didn't put much effort into my attire, it's better than showing up in your pajamas. We get it, 8 am classes are a struggle. Struggle harder. When you wear your pajamas you just look like you don't care and don't want to be there. Even if that is the case, pretend it isn't. Your teacher is a lot more likely to help you out if you engage with them and make an effort to be presentable.
2. Not showing up on time.
You know your class schedule weeks in advance. If you're late one or two times, no biggie. If you are late every day, and often by 20 minutes when your class is only 50 minutes, just skip class that day. 20 minutes into a lecture, the professor doesn't want to explain the concept you missed in the first half of class to you when the rest of the class was on time. Being a commuter and searching for a parking spot is a great excuse once, but after that you should adjust your schedule to accommodate for the time needed to find somewhere to park and get to class on time. This also applies to meetings and group projects. If you notify your group ahead of time, it's fine. But if you make it a habit to be late, your group isn't going to appreciate it. It is super hard to find a time everyone can meet together to talk anyways, don't make it harder by wasting everyones' time because you wanted to get coffee.
3. Constantly having side conversations.
I make side comments in class all the time. There is a difference between a comment and a conversation. A comment is one short statement. A conversation is a continual disruption. If the teacher has to stop their lecture to ask you to be quiet, you have crossed a BIG line. While you might have a super funny comment to add, laughing hysterically and noisily for 10 minutes and preventing me from gaining the education I'm paying for is not cool. You might not be able to get detention, but the teacher can throw you out which is definitely more shameful.
4. Blaming the teacher when you get a bad grade.
It is VERY rare that you getting a bad grade is a reflection on the teacher in college. Unless you somehow get the one bad teacher in the school, professors will work with you to try to bring up your grade until the bitter end. This is especially annoying when the person saying it either doesn't come to class or refuses to turn in assignments. I actually study less in college than in high school because most of my tests come directly from class lectures. If you go to class, do the assignments, and get help when you need it, there is no reason you shouldn't pass. If you don't understand how or why a grade was assigned, talk to your professor. They want you to pass. It looks better for them if you pass. They aren't rooting for your failure, but they aren't going to give you a grade you don't deserve. Earn your grade. It's practice for earning a wage!
5. Not accepting responsibility for your actions.
If the professor catches you on your phone, don't lie or cop an attitude, accept the public shaming and pay attention. If you don't know an answer because you weren't paying attention, don't try to make one up. You will end up sounding ridiculous and get yourself in more trouble than you might have otherwise. Teachers know that you don't always pay attention or do your homework or keep your phone up. It's okay to slip up a few times, just take responsibility for it. Be good natured about it, maybe even make a bit of a self-depreciating joke if your teacher enjoys humor, but drop the attitude and own up to what you've done.
This is college, so while you can choose to ignore all of this advice, I advise you to take it. It's time for you to grow up a little bit. Wear somehting other than the giraffe onesie, be on time, know when to shut up, and take control of your own destiny. You are ultimately in charge of your grades and your actions.
