[Advice] Approaching Your Teachers

Ever feel nervous about talking to your teachers?

That's okay so have I. Here are some things I did

to get myself together to approach my teachers

and get close to them so that the rest of my years

at school would not be so much of a nightmare.

But trust me, I never really approach my teachers

other than the usual hi and hello to show I exist,

or to return assignments because well teachers

kind of decide on my grades and I was worried if

I did anything hectic they would immediately think

I'm trash and there goes my grade. (Obviously that

does not happen because they cannot do that but

they can ruin your citizenship grade and if you have

participation they can screw you over with that too)

But also, some teachers are straight up jerks that

it makes you wonder why on earth did they even

sign up to become a teacher to be surrounded by

students. Madness, really. But some teachers are

the best, yet, you still feel a bit weary to approach!

This is so important, because teachers were there

to help you. From my past experience, I was able to

reveal a lot about my stress and struggles within the

course to a couple or more teachers that I had during the year and they were very understanding of my issues and even offered to help me get back to my feet. All I had to do was ask for their help. This is something we tend to stray away from because we think we could solve all of our problems by ourselves, when really, we can't. Teachers are getting paid to be there so use them. Trust me, teachers would love to help as long as

your question isn't stupid. By stupid, I mean asking

something like "can you raise my grade" at the end of a semester when you clearly never gave effort to begin with. You were afraid of a teacher getting mad about a stupid question? Well there's one.

However, there can be times when you did not catch on to what a teacher said. You might be nervous that they would get upset at you for "not paying attention" but you did, you just did not get it. Honestly, this is a reasonable worry because often times misunderstandings occur. What do I do? I'm blatantly honest:

Teacher, sorry, but I seriously do not get anything that was just mentioned. Please explain!

That sounds kind of... bleak doesn't it? Can we really

just be that bland about it? Well yeah. This helped me because the teacher does get taken aback by my

honesty then tries to recollect and actually help. Dear lord you would not believe how much this bland honesty helped me get the help I needed. Otherwise, the teacher would think you got it all. You need to reach out and SPEAK to them whether it is during class or out of class to actually get what is going on. Ask questions!

Does your brain ever go:

Wait... what?

Uh... what did that mean?

What just happened?

ASK! ASK! SPIT it out immediately if you get any flags

of confusion to what is being discussed in class!

Fair Warning Though....

Please do be careful with the types of questions you

decide to ask. Because some questions are not the

type of questions you should ask. For example:

Will you raise my grade?

If you clearly do not deserve a grade raise then don't

bother with it. I've had my grades boosted because

of the effort I put through the year to keep myself

afloat. The teacher knows my face because I keep

getting up to theirs with reasonable questions, the

eager personality to genuinely learn, also I was a

friend to them too. Hell, I have a bunch of them on

facebook too lol (please don't go adding your teachers

on Facebook)

Extra Credit! Extra Credit?

Dude, it's almost the end of the semester. Suddenly

you beg for extra credit. Yeah. No. Honestly, this is

something I usually ask in the middle or beginning

to show I have a keen interest in raising my grade

but never do I leave this resort towards the end of

a semester. Usually depends on the teacher, but

most of the ones I had hated it when we would beg

for extra credit.

Be good pals with your teacher! Of course keep

a distance as a student and them as the teacher,

but there is no harm in being friends with them

to show you care about them as your aid to help

you succeed in school. If they have office hours

and you have questions: GO! If they have meetings

or host things, go to them! Build a bond with your

teachers because it will help you a lot in the future.

When I was a student for an AP Lang teacher back

in High School (she was a nightmare for students)

I worked hard. I worked my butt off and I participated

in class. God, teachers were almost tired of me from

how much of an active student I was. (Got me an A

though so...) I went above and beyond so my teachers

would be used to me, my voice, my face and would

me years from now. (so many of them do

its funny) I visit my teachers after school quite often

because I volunteer to help them or I ask them for

help on a particular assignment. I show my teachers

I am good use to the class and them.

Now....

Why be close to your teachers? Well, ever want to

go to a good school? Some school require or

recommend letter of recs. These are written by

people who have seen you grow or work in their

environment and can advocate you for a scholarship,

school, university, internship and more. If you do not

have anyone who knows you, how will you get a

promising recommendation to put you up and shining

compared to the rest? It would be very difficult for you

if your letter of rec was some bland one that looked like

it was a premade set up with your name replaced. You

want your teachers to be honest, to point out the best

of you so others would want you!

Now, don't limit getting close to your teachers with

letter of recs being your prime goal. Be honest and

kind to your teachers so that you, yourself, are in the

comfort zone to ask for help. If there is no connection

it'll just be an ongoing anxious battle between you

and your mind wondering if you should ask for help

to begin with.

I wish the best for everyone who wants to do well

during their coming years of school work and studying.

Your teachers can be tough, sometimes it feels almost

impossible to approach them. Trust me, I've had awful

ones where I complained to the district and got them

fired lol. (Don't do that please unless you have a really

good reason to) But there are many teachers who do

want to help and are waiting for you to ask for it. Just

have your thoughts planned out, be honest during lectures, ask questions and show your determination to learn.