Dearest Professor(s),
I hope this letter finds you kindly. At least, much kinder than your authoritative words found me during syllabus week.
I understand that the first day of class is the day that you make hundreds of first impressions. As students, we do as well. I understand that you must be authoritative, respectable, and instructive. Your profession requires you to demand books, time, assignments, and absence policies.
Next, I understand your expectations. I understand that you must intimidate students and demand our time, tears, and patience. Trust me, professor, this is something I understand quite well. I have never been a slacker. I have been a witness to slacking, cheating, and half-assing my entire school career.
So professor, now that you know that I am not a slacker, where did you find the right to tell me that I was a valuable addition to your program?
I sat at my desk, eager to learn and listen, as you said, "If you are someone who works in school, you will have a hard time keeping up. If you work full time while you are in school you are not a strong asset to this program."
Never in my life has someone told me that I was a waste for working. Whether it be working in school, at job, or on myself.
As I said, professor, I am not a slacker. I will not slack in your class, my other three classes, or my private life. And in that private life, professor, is a job. A job that I must work to afford your $100 textbook, $150 access code, and overpriced notebooks to write down every word that will slip from your lips.
A job, professor, that I work to keep myself attending this University. A job to pay my bills, buy some food and give me a tiny bit of a social life. A job is something I have known for a decade, and I don't plan to stop working to become "an asset to your program." I already am an asset to your beloved program.
And what about you, professor? What if the student body looked down at you on your desk and demanded much more than four office hours a week. What if we demanded that you buy hundreds of dollars worth of supplies, pay thousands in tuition, but have no source of income for that? What if we told you that it will be difficult to keep up? Crush your dream and motivation on the first day?
Professor, I recommend adding something to your syllabus. Compassion. On average, about 70% of your class is working with me. Thirty hours of our week is devoted to a paycheck. Another 16 hours is devoted to sitting in classes. Each class averages about 2 hours of homework. Doctors recommend that college students get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. We're totaling at 110 hours. There are 168 in a week. That leaves 58 hours that I could devote to you. So professor.. please clean up your ignorance and do not doubt me. I can't wait to receive an A in your class.
Sincerely,
One of the 70% working a lot harder than you are.
