by Michaella Lesieur, Staff Writer
It is the beginning of a new school year and the first thing on your checklist is to go to class. It is a fresh start to show your professors you are in it to win it.
The first step is to create a habit of sticking with your class schedule and keep it a routine matter from day one. Okay, so you had a late one last night; it doesn’t mean you get a free card to skip class. It’s time to buckle down and realize that skipping class can make or break your attendance and grades, which is what I like to visualize as a domino effect.
You miss one class, which means not only did you miss the lecture, but reviews, assignments, homework and chances to catch up with your professor.
Oh yeah, did I forget to mention you are paying for it? We already dish out thousands of dollars to go to school – you want to get the most out of your investment.
The number one warning I have to you is that once you miss one class for non-emergency reasons, you are more likely to miss another. I personally have not missed classes and I’ve found that I get more out of a lesson when I am present. It gives me time to focus not only on the class, but gives me an opportunity to ask the professor questions. By going to class you are already setting yourself up for success and beating the first battle.
The guidelines for maintaining perfect class attendance is simple. One, go to class and two, plan accordingly. If you know you are going to have a hectic day or will be out the night before, be sure to budget your time.
Look at your planner a week in advance and give yourself time increments to complete each task. Highlight, color code, write a sticky note and post it on your mirror – do whatever it takes you need to get up and go. Give yourself a good ten minutes to get to class early and get prepared; also leave yourself ten minutes after class to connect with professors or stay late to ask them a question.
When the day is done remember to reward yourself. You have worked hard for it. Be sure to enjoy yourself as hard as you work. If you know how to balance the two you should have no problem getting to class every day.
If you end up seeing yourself missing a class, make sure you reach out in advance to your professor and keep up with the class work, by doing so you will be able to jump right back into your A-game.
Just this past month I was at a job convocation with guest speaker Brooks Harper, who spoke words of wisdom with an acronym, called DOLLARS.
D – Diligence
O – Organization
L – Leadership
L – Learning
A – Accountability
R – Relationship
S – Speaking
The acronym applies for us students too and how we are in school to educate ourselves, for dreams of one day obtaining successful careers to provide for a family and a better well-being. If you follow the acronym you will be halfway to reaching your goals. This all starts with being in class.
We’re all students trying to be in hundreds of places at the same time, but it is possible to achieve perfect class attendance. Be prepared, and you will make even the most boring of classes worth going to. You are going somewhere in life, don’t forget. You have to be able to use your classes as stepping stones to get to where you want to be.