The challenge of getting out of bed for a class that has no reason to be that early is one most students understand. 

The Daily Eastern News is a student-run paper, and the majority of our readers are students, so we don’t have to lie to ourselves. Going to class can suck. 

We all have our reasons to skip, whether it’s the wee hours of the morning or a conversation you don’t want to break up to go to a 1000-level class.  

But going to class is too important not to.  

First and foremost, there is a good chance there will be content important to the structure of the class as a whole and development as a student. 

Some lectures are more fluff than others, but it’s most likely in your best interest to show up to them anyway, just in case some kernel of knowledge is dropped that ties the entire class together. 

There have been times when I’ve had to miss a class, and the next one feels like I’m in an entirely different class. Other times, when I’ve missed a class, not a single thing has changed. 

You are in college to learn how to do whatever you’re studying more likely than not, and the people who teach classes at this school know what they’re talking about.  

You build a rapport with these professors. They can teach you things you would have never learned if you slept the day away in your bedroom. 

Plus, have you ever seen those syllabi that detail the number of points that lost for every missed class? It’ll add up quickly.  

“Theres two things you can do to give yourself the best chance to succeed academically and the first one is to go to class,” said academic advisor Greg Aydt. “That truly is that lead indicator of how successful you are going to be.” 

On the financial side, there’s new posters popping up around dorms and major buildings detailing money wasted per class skipped.  

Every class skipped on Tuesday and Thursday costs $45, and one on Monday, Wednesday and Friday costs $27.28. 

Think of all the Domino’s pizzas that could have been bought with that class you just skipped. 

People talk about the social aspect of going to college, and most of the time, it seems to be about the parties and the late nights spent with friends just talking. But going to classes is just as social an activity.  

When you go to your classes, you meet people. You forge friendships and connections that can be impactful both in your college career and once you get to whatever career you’re dreaming of.  

Many of the friends I made in my first year and the communities I joined were because I met them in class, even if they weren’t based on my major. 

I’ve had teachers tell me that classes were optional, that I could learn online and only show up for major events and be fine, and if that’s your cup of tea, hats off to you. But I feel like there’s a level of understanding that can’t be had when not face-to-face with a teacher. 

There are reasons to skip classes; if you feel sick, you probably should skip. Something big just came up in your personal life? Your professor will probably miss you, but you have bigger fish to fry. But skipping because you’re tired isn’t one of them.  

There are also classes that you will probably never use again in your life. My major probably isn’t going to be using complex math problems often. There’s probably a biology major out there wondering why they’re in a jazz history class. But these classes still have an impact. 

I wouldn’t be working at this newspaper if it weren’t for attending my 1000-level journalism class and taking a tour of the DEN. 

“It makes it really easy that one day, next week rolls around and you’re just not feeling one of the days next week either,” said Aydt. “Before you’ve noticed it, you’ve missed four days out of the last five and now you are behind in there, and even when you do go it’s tough.”  

The best thing to do is to just go to the class and not get that habit started before it’s too tough to crack. 

Every single member of staff and every other student in class most likely debated even showing up to class in every single class you’ve ever attended. Maybe it would have been fine if you’d never gone to class that day? But what if that’s the day a pop quiz happens, or your teacher has a surprise visit from someone who will connect you to jobs further down the line? 

As much as it sounds like it’s propaganda from the university, I’m telling you it’s probably time to drop the phone and go to that 9 a.m. you’ve skipped the past two times this week. 

You might just learn something. 

Emerson Reynolds can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].