Case 4: Sudden Sickness
You are entering into a week that’s chock-full of exams and paper due dates. You feel confident though, because you already meticulously planned out your hours of writing, studying and sleep. The following morning you wake up and are violently ill. When you finally get up the strength to go to Student Health Services, you learn that you have the flu and will be missing classes the rest of the week.
Don’t freak out!—It’s not the end of the world! Professor Tate explains, “It’s very common for freshman to be sick a week or two, and again, they kind of freak out, thinking it’s the end and they kind of screwed everything up.” Everyone gets sick; your professor will understand.
Be responsible. Let your professor know—Don’t let your professor think you are simply skipping class. Professor Tate advises “let them know you’re not going to be there. Let them know why, so they know you’re not goofing off.” Make sure they know you want to make up the work when you are feeling better. “What you don’t do is sit back for a few week and all of a suddenly show up. If you let them know in advance, they are much more likely to work with you.”
