Avoiding Academic Trouble: Attend Every Class

When I was a high school teacher, I used to tell seniors for years that my number one advice for college is to go to class consistently. Skipping class is a slippery slope, and you’re in academic trouble before you know it, as it can lead to a cascade of missed opportunities for learning and understanding critical concepts that are essential for success. It’s tricky because, at first, nothing happens when you skip one class; you may think you can catch up, and on the surface, it makes sense. However, as time goes on, this mindset can create a snowball effect, leading to a growing backlog of assignments and concepts that can quickly become unmanageable. Yet, from my own personal experience as a student who tried and ultimately flunked because of it, and as an observer of my friends, as well as my own adult children navigating their college journeys, I have concluded that the best advice I can give to anyone about to embark on their college adventure is to never miss class, regardless of how tempting it may be to take a break or prioritize other activities. This should be your number one rule to instill in yourself before you ever arrive as a freshman in college, a commitment that can shape your entire academic experience and set a strong foundation for your future. It isn’t just about failure avoidance; rather, this advice serves as a key to unlocking the potential to make college academics not only manageable but quite easy, offering you the chance to engage fully with your professors and peers, dive deep into discussions, and absorb knowledge in real-time. This concept, too, is subtle and can sneak up on you—transforming your overall engagement in the coursework into a fulfilling journey instead of a struggle, where you not only grasp the material better but also form meaningful connections that can last a lifetime, enriching your college experience in ways that extend far beyond the classroom and into your personal and professional development.