You're in college, really??

I am old...at least compared to 90% of the student population at my college I am old.  Now, I don't think 28 is by any means old but when I see how young incoming freshman are these days, I certainly feel that way.  You know what though, I'm good with that.  I think something crazy happened in the 10 years between my generation and the next.  I swear 18 year olds act like they are still in middle school.  Most of them have no clue what responsibility is and probably are just in college because their parents are paying for it and they don't have to have a job so they just screw around all the time.

Now, Before I get too carried away here, I must point out that not all young college students are this way.  I know many young co-eds that are fantastic students and really do put every last milligram of energy and effort they have into their education, my hat's off to them.

Back to the "other" one's...Maybe it's just that I am a bit older and that I have a truckload more responsibility than most of them so I know how to make the best of my time but it seems like so many college students think that they are on some joyride and the rules of real life don't apply to them.  One of my biggest peeves is students consistently showing up late for class.  Seriously, class starts at noon and gets over at 12:50, if you're going to wait until 12:40 to show, just stay home!  If you showed up for your job 40 minutes late, do you think you would still be employed??  Probably not, unless you had some major emergency that caused you to be late.

Last time I checked, you get to set your own schedule in college.  So, if you know that you are not a morning person, don't take classes that start at 8am or 9am...you won't make it!!  But if you do have to take classes that start before the sun comes up, suck it up and show up.  You are only wasting your own time, money, and opportunity if you don't.  Besides, if this "old", overworked, currently-single mom can show up ten minutes early to class, fully prepared and ready to go, you should have NO problems making it...for hell's sakes you live on campus!!  You don't even have to comb your hair, just make sure you're dressed and stumble to class for cryin' out loud!

Another HUGE peeve of mine is when a student comes up with some totally lame excuse about why they don't have their homework ready when we have had 3+ weeks to work on it and have it done.  I am probably the queen of procrastinators but I always have my work ready to turn in when it's due.  Here is the top 3 most annoying reasons I have heard (recently) for someone not having their project/assignment ready:

1-I don't have a printer...duh, it's a college campus, ever heard of the computer lab, you should check it out!  Besides, there's an Office Depot, 2 Staples' stores, and a fedex/kinkos in this town...
2- In one breath a student says: "I just haven't had any time to work on my paper" and in the next he says, "can you believe I actually stayed up for 24 hours straight playing the new world of warcraft (or some other game)...no wonder you didn't have time for something productive...
3-Oh, I had a family thing come up...really???  Your family thing lasted for the last 3 weeks?  Didn't I see you out in the hallway just 10 minutes ago?  Wait, I thought that was your excuse for not even showing up to class last week, you know this is a once per week class right??

Believe it or not, these are actual reasons that I have heard with my own ears and actual responses that I had to bite my tongue to keep from spewing out at these people.  I have heard more but these are the lamest of the lame.  Perhaps it is just my all out lack of patience/tolerance for irresponsibility that causes me to get so annoyed with these people but I am pretty sure it's justified.  I am still waiting for someone to use the old "my dog ate my homework" excuse...I have a cat that has chewed on my textbooks before but never (yet) has the dog eaten my homework...mainly because I give her a doggie biscuit and I keep my homework in a safe place.  But I digress...

I think what bugs me even more are the people who say they want to do great things like get their doctoral degree or become a professional something or other but their actions tell a different story.  Bottom line people, if you want a fancy degree or a professional whatever, you have to do what it takes to get it.  Read that again, YOU have to DO what it takes to get it (like be on time and be prepared).  It isn't going to just miraculously fall into your lap [although if anyone deserves for that to happen, it's me ;)]  Look, I know that life happens and sometimes you have to be late or miss a class but when it's a consistent thing, you probably need to have a good long pep talk with yourself and figure out really what you are trying to accomplish here.  College is expensive, don't waste the money of whoever is paying for it by dinking around and just getting by.  Be committed, be teachable, be flexible, be coachable, be present...these are the things that will take you far in college and in life in general.

I learned from one of my mentors/professors that there are 3 types of players in the world: those that are not playing, those that play not to lose, and those that play to win (I think that's how it goes)...in my opinion, if you aren't playing to win, you shouldn't be in the game!!  Come on people, you're in college now, pull your heads out and play to win...if you don't, someone else will and you may never get the opportunity to do the things you say you want to do!