Once the school year begins, it”s not difficult to become caught up in a frenzy of new responsibilities.
There are clubs to get involved in, events to attend around campus and obligatory phone calls to make to loved ones back home, not to mention classes. Amidst the chaos that is the daily life of a college student, it”s easy to forget about one of the most integral components of our education – the University of Idaho”s faculty.
Instructors are such an important part of students” education that the follow-up question to “What classes are you taking?” is usually “What teachers do you have?” And while we”ve had a number of teachers throughout the course of our academic lives – both good and bad – UI happens to have a faculty that is not only unique in composition, but one that also genuinely cares about their students.
Professors put an incredible amount of time and energy into their students.
While we”re out exploring the town with friends or going to football games, our professors are grading papers, pouring over assignments and organizing lesson plans. In addition to balancing families and sometimes secondary careers like research positions, they do what they can to provide their students with the resources necessary for them to succeed.
Regardless of the work they put in, teaching can often be a thankless job wrought with administrative politics and the challenge of trying to communicate information from one brain to a number of other brains that work in completely different ways.
As the semester continues, it”s important to remember the faculty, the people we see nearly every day who are a guiding and instructional force in our lives.
There”s a reason they”re here and it”s not for the money. Faculty at UI are here because they want to be.
It”s important to take pride in the university we attend, but also to appreciate those who are teaching us. Showing appreciation can be as simple as taking the time to get to know your professors or utilizing all of the academic resources they offer.
Office hours are a tremendous resource that is often ignored by students, as well as a great opportunity to get to know your faculty. Office hours are a rare opportunity to ask questions about their lives and perhaps even pick up some life advice while you”re at it. They”ve put this time aside for you and they likely have some interesting stories to tell.
No matter how you feel about your professor, they are people too. Something as simple as asking about their day when you walk into class can help foster a connection and relieve some of the everyday stressors of teaching.
Rather than staring at the floor or pretending to do something on your cellphone, say “hi” when you walk past faculty around campus or if you run into them at a coffee shop downtown.
Most importantly, don”t forget to be engaged. Imagine how frustrating it would be putting time and effort into someone who isn”t willing to turn in assignments or spends the entire class on their phone.
You get out of your education what you”re willing to put in. And faculty can be your biggest ally in college and in setting yourself up for the future.
– CB