Impressions
by Jon Caswell
Betty had sat quietly through the entire freshman orientation. This program was designed to help students understand what to expect from their freshman year. There were so many new students, and she was reluctant to stand out by asking a question. The last part of the program, a question-and-answer panel of professors, had already started. Nobody had asked the question she was most curious about. Betty raised her hand and asked, “What can students do to impress their professors?”
The members of the panel looked at each other quizzically. Finally, Professor Weingarten, one of the oldest members of the panel, responded, “Be late.”
“Be late?” Betty responded.
“That’s right, nothing impresses a teacher, or employer, for that matter, as much as someone who is late,” the history teacher said. “I never forget a student who is chronically late to my class. In fact, in my classes, those students always get a minus on their letter grades. Even if they’ve earned an A, they get an A-.”
Tom, a freshman sitting near Betty, jumped up. “That isn’t fair,” he said. “If they earn an A, they should get an A. They obviously didn’t miss anything important by being late.”
Professor Weingarten eyed the young man. “I don’t downgrade them for knowledge,” he said. “I downgrade them for rudeness. Being late is just plain rude, and rudeness has its reward.”
A female student named Ellen shouted, “It still isn’t fair.”
Professor Weingarten turned to the whole group. “I don’t know if this is fair or not, but I do know that it is not okay to be rude to people, your teachers included. If you want to impress someone, treat them rudely, and they will remember you. Guaranteed.”
The professor turned back to Betty. “Now, if you want to impress a teacher positively, that’s easy, be on time and be prepared.”
“Thank you, sir, I think I understand,” Betty said and sat down.
What event best helps Betty understand how she can make a good impression at school?
A.
when the professor talks about rudeness having consequences
B.
when Professor Weingarten laughs at the students' attitudes
C.
when Betty listens to the questions from other students
D.
when the students challenge the professor's grading policy