Advice from Your Professor

As you begin the 2014 winter/spring semester, here is some advice I wish my students had followed last semester:

Go to class!  In the event that you have a problem later on in the semester, I will be more inclined to help you if you have demonstrated your interest in learning and in my class.

Keep the handouts you receive.  Some students are constantly asking for replacements.  One important personal characteristic is to be able to keep track of your belongings.    You should have learned this in elementary school!

Don’t constantly have side-bar conversations in class.  You will not know what is happening and the people around you are annoyed and distracted by you.

Pay attention the first time.  It wastes everyone’s time when information has to be repeated because you were not paying attention.

Put your cell phone away!  You cannot do two things at once – read and send texts and pay attention to the class.  You will constantly be behind.

Try to have a pleasant expression on your face.  Look interested!  Keep in mind the impression you are giving to others.

These are small things, but they communicate a lot about who you are as a student and how much you care about your education. 

Happy 2014!  Here’s to a successful semester!

First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is now available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.