Skipping class can be very intriguing: maybe your friend in the class is out sick and you don’t want to go a lecture without a lecture buddy, or perhaps it’s an 8am that you can’t bear the thought of getting out of bed. It’s even more enticing if the lecture is Bruincasted, although it’s something that you shouldn’t do. Of course, it seems obvious that you shouldn’t skip class, but what are the real reasons why?
Firstly, you’re paying for the class. When the cost of your tuition is divided, the amount you’re paying for each class is around thirty dollars. Thirty dollars going down the drain each time you don’t go to class just seems silly, yet people do it all the time. That seemingly minute amount of money adds up quickly, and with each skipped class you are only wasting more of your own or your parent’s hard-earned money. You are paying for an education, so why not go to the lectures and discussions that you are paying for to receive that education?
Secondly, there’s just something about being in a classroom that makes you more engaged. Say, even if you got notes from a fellow classmate, you will never be fully engaged in the material. You won’t be able to hear comments made by fellow students or important clarifications from the professor that your friend’s notes may fail to include. Even if the lecture agenda is just watching a documentary, it is very beneficial to watch it in a lecture hall. Being able to discuss what you have seen on the big screen with the entirely of your class is very enlightening. It’s interesting to see how people who have watched the same thing you have may have an entirely different takeaway from yours. Their different takeaways allow you to see different perspectives on a singular topic, which is critical for a developed knowledge on said topic.
Thirdly, skipping class can become a habit, and it is definitely a habit you do not want sticking with you. Going to class is not only about going to learn material, but in a broader sense it’s about having a schedule and sticking to it. Skipping class is failing to follow the schedule you have put into place for yourself, which is only a detriment to you both now and in the future. As a college student, you are able to make your own schedule, which is something that you may not be able to do when you become engrossed with a full-time job after college. Following the schedule you make for yourself in college is crucial if you want the transition to a post-graduation schedule to be smooth.
Skipping class may seem like a good idea when you want to take a nap or watch some extra Netflix, but it really just hurts you in the long run.
