In the January 20 issue of the Mirror News, Jim H. expressed in a “Letter to the Editor” his feelings about instructors on the HFCC campus—who he refers to as “teachers”—being unfair, brutal, cynical and dictatorial. Jim also stated that since tuition pays the professors bills, it makes him feel as if he has controlling stock in the institution.

He claimed he overheard a professor “basically shouting at his class.” Is it possible that particular situation may have been taken out of context? Does the professor have a boisterous voice? Were the students being disrespectful?

Attendance policies are in place to maintain the integrity of HFCC, and for government purposes relating to the disbursement of financial aid. The assumption is that students attend college because they want to get something out of it; if they do not, that is certainly their prerogative, but they are, ultimately, wasting their own time and money.

The first step to success is simply showing up. Can students really expect to benefit from an education without putting forth some effort? Students cannot realistically expect to further their education or enter the workforce without a level of self-motivation and some concept of responsibility.

There are two types of students: students who want to be in school and students who feel obligated to go to school. At different times in my life, I have situated myself at opposite ends of that spectrum. At my previous school I once spent a whole semester in my dorm, leaving only on test days.

Did I learn anything? Absolutely not.

I figured HFCC would be a good place to begin resurrecting my education, and I came in with the right attitude. Choosing to come to HFCC has been the wisest decision of my little life, because the staff and faculty have given me the skills and knowledge to achieve more than I ever thought possible in such a short amount of time.

Every single staff and faculty member I have worked with is nothing short of amazing. I am in awe of the HFCC staff’s knowledge of the respective subject matter, as well as their encouragement, professionalism, dedication, excitement, and the obvious motivation to give each student a better perspective of the world around them and options for their future. I would not be where I am today or able to go where I am going in the future without the members of the faculty and staff that I have had the pleasure to know at HFCC.

It all begins with your state of mind.

As for the security at the bookstore….

Books are expensive, and some people have attempted to steal books and merchandise; otherwise, these precautions would not be in place. Make sense?

Brianna Klutz
Mirror News
Online and Creative Writing Editor