Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
As a college student, going to class is challenging. It can take a lot of motivation and discipline to bring yourself to every class Monday through Friday. But just showing up to class isn’t enough; you need actually to engage. If you’re not listening, not taking notes and not participating, then you might as well have stayed home.
The great thing about college is choosing what to study and customizing your classes around your interests and schedule. When getting to design your education, many college students exploit this freedom. Some think that simply showing up to class is sufficient, whether that’s to turn in the in-class assignment, collect iClicker points or to make themselves feel good for physically going. They get to the lecture hall two minutes before class starts, sit down, open their computers and start scrolling on their phones.
You would think that students would put their phones away once the professor begins the lesson, but instead, they use the professor’s voice as background noise. Students would rather do The New York Times’ Wordle, online shop or scroll through TikTok than learn. It’s not that students don’t have the capacity to pay attention — it’s that we’ve trained ourselves not to.
Even when students aren’t on their phones, they often use class time to complete assignments for other classes. But while you tune out the professor and try to scramble together one assignment, you actively miss information you’ll need for the next assignment. You just put yourself in a cycle of falling behind. The easiest way to do well in college is also the most obvious: actually pay attention. Then, you won’t have to learn the lecture material on your own time.
Going to college and choosing a degree is a privilege, and students abuse it. College is an investment. As a student, your job isn’t just to get a diploma; it’s to learn. But how can you learn when you don’t listen to a word your professors say?
And the poor professors, these people have dedicated their lives to mastering subjects and sharing their knowledge. They spend years earning degrees, researching, writing and preparing lectures, and we repay them by staring at our screens. I’ve seen professors pause mid-lecture after realizing half the class isn’t paying attention. The look of disappointment on their faces says it all.
Some professors at Colorado State University have enforced tech-free classrooms — no phones, no iPads and no laptops. Everything is done with paper and pen, and the professor teaches with the whiteboard. It’s a noble experiment, and sometimes it works. But even in those classrooms, students still struggle to give their undivided attention. The truth is that no policy can force engagement; it’s up to the students.
College isn’t something you just get to attend; it is a process you participate in. By not paying attention, you’re not only wasting money and disrespecting your professor, but you are cheating your future self out of knowledge and skills you will need.
This is your future career. You can either build it by showing up, tuning in and taking your education seriously, or you can throw it away. At the end of the day, college isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to challenge you. But the real challenge isn’t the exams or the essays — it’s disciplining yourself to care enough to pay attention.
If staying off your computer means taking hand-written notes, then do that. Keep your phone in your backpack and take your headphones off. It’s really not that hard to make the change and focus. Do it for yourself — you will appreciate it later.
Reach Charlotte Seymour at letters@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
