Ten things..

...you should know before you go to college. It's midterms once again, and after a rousting inspirational discussion with one of my upper-level courses, I decided it was high time to post the ten things all students really should know before they venture on to "the yard".

10. Smile! You made it! Don't be down because you have to go through another four years of school. No one made you come here, so all of this is your own doing, and we do expect you to enjoy the ride.

9. College is not easy, no. In fact, we like to make it as hard as possible for you. It's called "challenging you", and it is what will give you the knowledge you need to succeed. Kicking and screaming will not help.

8. You are now 18. That means you can vote, enlist in the military, and engage in a whole slew of adult-like activities. Including taking responsibilities for your actions. Whatever excuse you may have, unless it involves the words" doctor", "jury duty", or "death", they're only going to aggrvate your professor. Noblesse oblige. Or, I suppose I should say, adulte oblige.

7. Don't use the weather as an excuse. We know that it's raining. We know it's hot. We know it's freezing. We fought our way through these dire elements too, and we made it. Do not expect symathy because you had to walk half a mile from your dorm to our classroom in the rain.

6. Wear normal clothes when you come to class. We bother to change after we get up out of bed. So should you. Sweatpants, flipflops, and white tennis socks are simply not appropriate attire in college. Unless you're actually in bed that is.

5. Talk to your professors. We may not want to hear your entire life story, or what all you did last night at the club, but we do like to know what is going on your life, especially if it is going to somehow impact your academic performance. We're not going to get mad, or think you're silly when you cry, we've been there and done that (and still do), in fact, we may be whole lot more understanding than you think. On the other hand, please don't expect sympathy if you're failing the class and then come to us the day that grades are due to inform us about the real reason why you didn't perform up to par.

4. Be gracious when defeated. Know that when you want to be the big jock on campus, the favorite soror or brudder, the A-student, and the student volunteer of the year, something is going to give. And I'm going to warn you right now, it will probably be academics. If this happens, don't blame anyone but yourself, be gracious about your mistake, and do better.

3. Dream little. Act big. Don't waste time dreaming about where you want to go, or what you are going to do. Work at it.

2. Be nice to everyone, but especially your teachers. They work hard (for little pay, even though that is, admittedly, their problem), and have the power to defer your graduation until eternity.

And finally:
1. Bad things happen to those who procrastinate.