titles

Humans have titles for everything from work positions like, “barista” or “universal associate,” to lifestyle titles like, “beatnik” or “jock.” Sometimes these titles are thrust onto us by our peers. For example, poor Jonny in my 4th grade class always smelled like cats. He was given the title of “the poor kid” because he just loved to wear his favorite set of clothes and loved his cats. Eventually, I discovered that he wasn’t poor at all, but enjoyed the attention and popularity that being “the poor kid” gave him. Jonny continued to live the title of “the poor kid” until high school when he morphed the title to “Monastic” and “minimalist.”

Other times a title is something that we can proclaim to everyone. Like my friend Scott, who told everyone that he would one day be a comic book writer. After his announcement people decided that he was the authority on all things superhero and fantastical.

In a classroom the title that each person chooses directly affects the grade that that person receives. I have observed a few different titles that can be owned in a classroom, and depending on which one a person owns, that person can pass or fail the class. They can truly learn something or nothing at all, and they can have a good classroom experience or a horrible one. The titles that I have observed are: the 110%-er, the natural, the priority person, the attention grabber, the C man, the shrugger, the daydreamer, and the rebel.

My first observation is the title that will most likely have the highest grade. The 110%-er I always picture as a woman, maybe because my girlfriend owns this title through and through. There she is, sitting in the front of class like always, she always beats everyone to the classroom. I’m sure that she knows what it means to be fashionably late because she knows just about everything, but she never is fashionably late. Fashion is, of course, all business. For her, clothing must reflect the organization and focus of her mind. She takes notes like she takes breaths. She has her assignments finished a week ahead of everyone else and although her free time is taken up with worries about how to fit an extra hour of studying in, she finds great self satisfaction with every “A” she earns.

My second observation could easily rival the 110%-er, if only he’d try. The natural is a person who understands the curriculum in the class like he understands walking. It just comes to him. I usually see this title on a cocky guy, who often smirks at the frivolous note taking of the 110%er. It’s often said that, “He has so much potential, if only he would apply himself.” Depending on the effort put forth by the natural, he could easily have the crown of top student, but is usually too lazy to earn it. The natural likes to live in the moment, equipped for each challenge only with what he naturally has. The natural is usually quite witty and easy going, and although he’ll probably end up with a “B” his overall classroom experience will be beneficial to him.

This next observation is one that doesn’t exist in every classroom, but I’ve been finding more and more at community college: the priority person. I have seen the priority person as both male and female, but this title is always clearly distinguished. This person will usually be late to class, sit in the back of the room and leave early. I call this person the priority person because they usually have higher priorities outside of the class. A family that they have to take care of, a full time job, or maybe even a love for video games takes first priority. The priority person may see class as a nuisance but they understand that the class will help them, in the long run, to take care of their main priority. Homework is usually turned in late or on time but incomplete. When the teacher calls on them to add to the classroom discussion they usually repeat something that’s already been said. If they know the answer to something they will strive to tell it because they know that the next question they probably don’t know. “B’s” and “C’s” are usually what the priority person ends up with and because they are taking the class for the benefit of their priority they feel great accomplishment and purpose in passing a class.

This observation is one that has mostly been done in a mirror. The attention grabber or class clown as it was known as in high school, is a title of a person either brimming with confidence or else suffering from such a lack of confidence that they would accept being laughed at as a sort of reassurance. The attention grabber, is usually a guy who just wants to be noticed, whether by a certain girl, every girl or for the attention of the father like or mother like teacher. He always has a comment ready for the amusement of the class and often comments on things like he is on “Mystery Science Theater.” The attention grabber is usually full of wit, but lacking motivation or purpose to do anything productive with it. The attention grabber is happy with a “B” and sees each class as a social event, thus it is almost always fun.

My next observation is one that I believe is most frustrating to teachers because no matter how much effort is put into teaching them, they still end up with a “C”. The “C” man (pardon the play on words), or otherwise known as the procrastinator, considers the idea of “good, hard work” a character flaw. The “C” man often lives under the motto that “Nothing can’t be done in five minutes”. While the natural can pump out an “A” paper in five minutes, the “C” man would consider anything higher than a “B” an insult. He would think that he could have spent less time doing the paper and more time doing something more fun. Fun is often the motivator for the “C” man, and so class becomes something that is a fun-interrupter. He will often sit in the middle or on the outskirts of the class and seek to avoid attention because getting attention will mean more participation out of him, meaning more work which is less fun. If he passes with a “C” he is happy, but overall he is bored of the classroom.

I personally don’t understand the observation I call the shrugger because why would a person take a class if they don’t really want to be there? The shrugger can be defined under the trite description, “Too cool for school” (2cool 4school). This person tends to think that he or she is better than the class. They don’t really care about the content, perhaps thinking that he or she will never use the information in day to day life. Participation is minimal and so is the effort put into the homework. The shrugger is always finding ways to amuse his or her self. Examples of this are often texting in class, excessive doodling, and all sorts of blank stares. When this person is called upon in class they almost never know what the question even is. The shrugger will usually slide by with a “C” or else get a “D” and beg for extra credit at the end of the term so he or she doesn’t have to retake the class.

The day dreamer is a classic observation and isn’t an everyday identity, but one that nearly every student will dawn for a short period here and there. The day dreamer is detrimental to the student’s grade because once one assumes the title of day dreamer all the discussion, class participation and knowledge is missed for the time while this title is claimed. The good thing about this title is that it is easy to shake off even in the middle of class. This person usually sits by the window or as far from the teaching as possible and is never fully present in class. The day dreamer will usually jump or be startled when called upon as if the utterance of his or her name physically pulls them from where ever they are and slams them back into their seat. Because this title is usually not owned by the same student every day, the letter grade given to this person varies, the more this title is used the worse the grade.

My last observation is a title that can be the most damaging to the student’s grade. The rebel is a student that generally gives an aura that says, “I don’t care.” This person will contradict the professor as often as they can and will usually be talking during class. Homework is nearly never done in an act of defiance. They never completely face the teacher. They often sit slumped in their chair and usually arrive late. While the rebel will usually secretly enjoy the class because they can express their rebelliousness, they also normally don’t pass, which causes their enjoyment to be cut short.

I have just listed and defined some key titles that I have observed in classes. Like the over used saying goes, “Knowing is half the battle.” Once we understand these titles we can choose which title we can comfortably fit in and one that will still give us our desired grade. It is important to know that our titles can be changed! Just like my friend Jonny, who changed what he was known for, we too can change how people view us and what they expect from us. We need to be who we want to be and not who our peers tell us to be. If we choose a poor title we could flunk a class or have a horrible classroom experience. We must choose wisely.