Jeopardizing GPA for friend time

Walt Porter

It is typical for some students to want be a part of their close friends’ lives, seeing that most students have little time to associate with them between hectic work schedules, daily classes, and unplanned events. Taking a class with a friend is an alternative to old fashioned hangouts.
Many students like Amy Thompson are finding that going into a class can be much easier utilizing the buddy system.
“I think I learned and retained more by having a friend in the class. (When you are) on your own, you’re able to slack off, but with a friend we kept each other on point,” Thompson said.
“After having that experience I used it in other classes. I put little study groups together, so we could keep each other on task, and ask questions, and really dive in and get the most out of the class,” Thompson said.
“It was perfect, we had a 9 a.m. class so we would stop and get a little breakfast, and then head to class. We were more outgoing in class because we knew each other and it was easier to meet and talk to other classmates. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Other students feel that it can be somewhat distracting in class. Choosing the friend may be as difficult as choosing a class.
“To tell you the truth it sucked. The way you behave around friends doesn’t come out in class, and my friend did better than me. I was considered the intelligent one, so it made me feel stupid,” said MCC student Marshall Glass.
For Glass, the nature of the situation allowed him to be humble as well as learn from his friend.
“After it was established that he understood the course better than me, I did depend on him to help me through the course.”
The comfort of knowning someone in class can be very appealing. Seating arrangements are not typically assigned so it is easy to rearrange yourself to where ever you’d like.
MCC student Kati Cunningham believes that regardless if you are taking a class with someone you know, students should get to know each other.
“I think it’s important to make friends in your classes, so if for any reason you can’t be in class or you need help understanding something, you have someone to give you a hand and vice versa.
“I’ve never gone into a class knowing anyone, which is funny cause this coming semester I’m going into all of my classes knowing at least one, if not more, person,” Cunningham said.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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