Many years ago I taught eighth grade English and one of our units focused on the tall tale. My favorite writing assignment associated with that unit centered around creative excuses. The premise of the essay was, "Yes, of course I DID the assignment, but I can't turn it in today because...". I discovered that my students were experts at homework tall tales.
The dog ate my homework was definitely for beginners. Their imaginations and critical thinking skills went wild when given the opportunity to string together a series of unlikely events that ultimately led to the sad result that their assignment, although completed on time, was not actually available to be submitted on the due date.
A recent article in
the Chronicle of Higher Education reminded me of those essays from many years ago. It centered around the annual dreaded October demise of many, many grandparents. In fact, some college students seem to lose three, four or even five grandmothers during the fall semester alone. The article went on to describe some of the tall tales that appear in faculty members' email this time of year as students seek a bit of extra time or a special accommodation.
Of course, legitimate problems do derail very committed students now and then, and faculty members always want to support their students and give them the time they need to get back on track. The issue for faculty members is sorting out reality from creative excuse-making in a way that is fair and consistent - not an easy task.
College students who are experienced and successful know that no matter how organized and committed they are, life has a way of occasionally stepping in and tossing carefully made plans out the window. By planning ahead and staying on top of things it's possible to manage the unexpected most of the time. It's really about keeping one key life principle in mind:
Don't let the sideshows distract you from the main show - and know the difference. In order to be successful in college, the main show has to be a clear commitment to your classes. Your part-time job is a sideshow, so if your boss suddenly asks you to work an extra night and you need that time to prepare for an exam, say "no". If you have children, your family is clearly not a side-show, but it doesn't have to be an excuse for falling behind at school, either. It isn't easy being a parent who is a college student, but the best advice you will receive is pretty simple: always have back-up plans. Then, have back-up plans for your back-up plans, so when your second grader gets a strept throat when your sister is on vacation, you know you can call your neighbor rather than having to skip class. Don't make doctor's appointments when you have class. You get the idea.
Students who make class the "main show" in their lives are learning how to manage the unexpected, a skill that will serve them well throughout their working lives. They will find themselves well prepared to move on to their careers, where bosses usually aren't particularly receptive to those creative tall tales that worked so well back in eighth grade.
