My “What Every Student Needs to Know About Being an Adult” Speech. (Part One…In Development)

Things I need to tell every student every semester for the rest of my life, probably…

Simple reality: JUST SHOW UP. Learning how to discipline your life to get to bed at a decent hour so you can get up at the right time will save headaches later on in life. Learn it now. Showing up will save worrying about “skips” in my class and then worrying over what you might have missed. Showing up will save you hundreds of dollars.

Harsh Realities.

1. You are an adult. This is tough. I am 41 years old and I still have to have this one slap me from time to time.

You are responsible for your life. You cannot blame your roommate, your family, your teacher, your job, your girlfriend or boyfriend. YOU are responsible for YOUR life. Excuses are sometimes helpful, but they do not play long in this life.

If you cannot get your sorry carcass out of bed in the morning, it is YOUR deal, not someone else’s fault. If you cannot get your assignment turned in on time and I do not take it, it will not serve you well to try and whine your way into getting that assignment into my hands.

YOU are responsible for your life. Know what is expected and then do it. Very simple rules of life. This one is key. You are an adult.

I like you. Liking you has nothing to do with you failing a class because you did not get your work in. Liking you does not cause me to overlook poor work and give you a passing grade. Liking you has everything with me telling you what is expected and then, oddly enough, asking you to live up to that expectation! I will like you if you pass the class. I will like you if you fail the class. Liking you has nothing to do with you being an adult.