Dec 12 2008
It’s a Small World
It’s easy for online students to feel a bit anonymous when they are posting in their virtual classrooms, but make no mistake that it’s definitely a smaller world out there than you think. The odds are pretty strong that you will bump into your fellow classmates and your instructor at some point in your school or professional careers.
Until you meet again:
- Instructors often teach more than one class. It is often the case that an instructor you hassled or argued with will be teaching another class you need to take before your graduate. And there will be no getting out of it. So unless you want to suffer through a very awkward and painful term, think ahead and always be professional with your instructors and classmates.
- Your classmates today will be your co-workers tomorrow. Once you start taking classes in your major, your fellow students will likely be joining you in the professional world after graduation. Good networking now could mean a better job tomorrow.
- Instructors often work in the field you’re trying to break into. Most professors currently have jobs that you aspire to, or they have contacts for companies that are hiring. If you impress them, they might give you good tips on how to get in. If you disappoint them, you’ll have one less ally to help you out.
A good rule to follow is to always take the high road and to always be a professional. While you cannot control the way others behave, you can manage your own temper and attitude. And quite often, in a tight market where everyone has strong qualifications, a good temperament could get you in the door.
