School Me Saturday 2/11/23-asking for help

The professors give you their email addresses for a purpose.

And that is to reach out to them if you have any questions. Or to tell them that you are not going to be in class.

This is a hard one for me.

Our theory professor and our philosophy professor last semester talked about speaking to my classmates, either via email or in person, frequently.

This may be a generational thing. Probably not, as I think we are all Gen X or Millenial in the cohort. This may be a function of how we were raised, or what other schools have instilled in us. The only time I went to an instructor in my ADN program was when I was called to the office to explain my stellar score in the computer test that was supposed to tell us our likely NCLEX results. Not the NCLEX, a preparatory pre-test. And the teacher wanted to know why I scored the highest in the class. Had I cheated?

Well.

Of course not. But this conversation left me convinced that I was being watched, and judged at all times.

Probably explains a lot about my BSN program and how when I was struggling with Econ and Statistics in the same quarter I didn’t reach out. I didn’t because I didn’t want to be judged for taking two very hard classes in the same quarter. Wrecked my 4.0, that’s for sure.

And Generation X, who was largely left to our own devices, does not like judgment. Or being watched. Even if it will ultimately help us.

And actively asking for help?

No, thank you.

But I am learning the higher I go in school, that it is important, and expected for us to reach out if we are having issues. On anything.

This is completely out of my experience.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help.

There is a lot wrong when recognizing that you need help from the professor and struggling in silence.

I hope when it is my turn to be the professor that I remember these growing pains and can recognize and help struggling students.

After all, my job will be to guide them on the path of graduation, of helping them be the best nurse they can be.

Maybe another mantra (you know how I love those).

Teachers are there to help us succeed. Nothing is gained by letting us fail.

Okay, I changed my mind. This is definitely generational. Those of us who grew up and went to school in the 1980s need help with this.

It can start with an email. And the willingness to ask for help.