It’s spring break, which means your mind is prone to wander everywhere except where it should be academically. And so we offer some mid-semester school- and professor-related resolutions for you to consider… straight from someone who sits on the other side of the desk now.
12. Do your best to be on time. If you can’t be on time, come in quietly, and don’t have an ice cream cone in your hand.
11. Pay attention to the syllabus. No, really; it has the information you need to know about your assignments, grades, professor’s office hours and contact information, etc.
10. Put away your phone and log off of Facebook. You can’t multitask as well as you think you can. Even if you could, you’d still be cheating yourself out of a complete classroom experience.
9. For every assignment, read the instructions. When taking an exam, read the question. If you don’t understand the instructions or the question, ask the professor.
8. You are not in high school any more, which means you are responsible for getting books, getting to class on time, turning in assignments, and fixing any problems.
7. For communicating with your professor, face to face is best. Email is 2nd best. Allow the professor 24 hours (48 on weekends) to respond before getting frustrated. Professors have lives too!
6. Laugh (or at least smile) at our jokes, even if they aren’t funny. A) We think we’re pretty dang hilarious. B) Y’all are a tough crowd, especially at 8am!
5. We are not legally allowed to talk to your parents; if they call/email us, it can be frustrating and annoying.
4. Your professors are human. We will make mistakes and change our minds. Give us the same measure of mercy and grace you would like to receive.
3. Realize that we would likely fall asleep in our own classes if we weren’t the ones talking; however, do try to stay awake.
2. Whenever possible, look for your textbooks online or at used bookstores – unless your professor wrote the text. Then at least get a decent-looking copy and bring it to class!
1. Get to know your professor. Talk during class discussion. Talk to the professor after class. Better yet, drop in to chat during office hours.
Rebekah Crowe, TCU PhD student and Graduate Student Instructor
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