Be a Professional Student!

What does it mean to be a professional college student? You’ve probably heard ‘urban legends’ about professional college students who never graduate, having had a great time socially as they continue from semester to semester. Today, the phrase ‘professional college student’ has an entirely different meaning. To be successful, college must be your ‘job’ and a top priority in your life. As you consider the following, remember that you may be requesting letters of reference from your “employers” or “supervisors” at A&M-Kingsville, our faculty and staff.

How do you think your future employer would perceive the following disruptive behaviors?

• Showing up late to or leaving early from work?
• Talking on cell phones or text messaging while on the job?
• Coming to work without having showered or dressed appropriately?
• Being absent from the job without explanation?
• Sleeping while on the job?
• Reading a magazine or surfing the web while you should be completing a task for work?
• Conducting side conversations during staff meetings while important business is being discussed?

This list may seem silly; however, it is important to consider these behaviors in the context of your job as a successful college student. I’m sure you would agree that these behaviors in the workplace would likely result in an employee’s losing his/her job. Should we not expect that similar behaviors in the college classroom would likely result in decreased learning and poor performance? Be a professional student at A&M-Kingsville, achieve to the best of your ability and graduate in a timely fashion as you do so.