As I sit here typing, I am almost a third of the way through second-semester of my first year at Ithaca College. While my first year has flown by, and I’ve definitely made some great friends, it hasn’t all been easy. I also realize that it would be improper to not thank those who have helped me the most: my professors.
I think that it is important to create awareness about faculty-student relationships, and how important they can be to students’ success and well-being. Having a good relationship with a professor means so much more than getting a good grade in their class, or even being able to use them as a reference down the road.
But it definitely takes some trial and error navigating relationships with professors, especially as a first-year student. Here are some of the ways I’ve navigated relationships with my professors thus far, and tips I’d recommend to any college student:
1. Make your presence known.
By this, I mean greet your professor each class. Answer questions and make relevant comments. Make sure you appreciate the opportunity to learn. On the flip side, there’s no need to be the student who thinks they know everything even before taking the class. I’m sure most professors frown upon it as much as we students find it cringeworthy.
2. Go to office hours.
I know, I know. You hear this all the time. But trust me, establishing relationships with my professors early on has helped me on multiple occasions this year. There are professors who have hundreds of students across multiple sections. The likelihood of them even acknowledging your existence, let alone remembering your name, is slim. This is your opportunity to establish yourself as a student and as an individual. I’ve found that most professors enjoy talking with their students, and will do almost anything to help students succeed in the classroom and beyond.
3. Recognize that your professor wants you to do well.
This seems like a given, but professors definitely want their students to succeed. This means that most of them are very accommodating, and that they will take time out of their lives to meet with you. Trust me, they would much rather have you ask for help and meet with you several times multiple than see you fail.
4. Your professor is human, too.
One of the greatest things that I’ve found about college professors is that they admit their humanity. Unlike your high school teachers, college professors don’t shy away from swearing profusely about how school should have been cancelled due to the snow, or from talking about the big game this weekend. Remember this when you are quick to criticize them. Professors are not just robots lecturing at the front of the classroom, they put time and effort into their lessons and they sincerely want students to do well. Many of my professors thus far have been great role models in terms of how they approach their work.
5. Reach out if you’re struggling.
Believe me, you are not the only student who has struggled during your time in college. Let your professor know if something is preventing you from doing well in their class. They don’t have to know all of the details, but they understand what life throws at young adults, and they are likely to accommodate you. And depending on the relationship you have with your professor, they can be great people to just sit and talk to. They will help you connect to important campus resources that you might need.
