Arguably, one of the most important relationships you’ll have to build throughout college are the relationships with your professors. It’s inevitable that there will be a professor or two that you will not get along with, but that being said, you will have a much easier time getting through school if you make an effort to have working relationships with the people around you.
A nice aspect about Langston is that this specific university makes building a community a major priority. I would even go as far as saying that community is one of the pillars of the city of Langston itself. The thing about community is the people who truly care want you to succeed just as much as you want to succeed. This especially applies to professors. Thankfully, Langston is a small university, which makes it much easier to have more personal relationships with professors, administration and staff.
As I said, Langston is a small university, meaning that you will more than likely be working with the same handful of professors throughout your entire degree program. It’s up to you to decide whether that’ll be more of a blessing than a curse, but if you play your cards right, you could end up making some very close connections with your professors. And who knows, they may very well end up being mentors to you as you start the next chapter of your life.
The first few weeks of each semester are very important. Obviously, during this time there is a lot going on with move-ins and trying to get adjusted to your semester schedule, but the beginning of the year is when you will have the most free time, so you’ll want to use it wisely. I would highly recommend trying to personally introduce yourself to your professor either after class or during office hours within the first week or two of classes. This will allow both you and your professor to get a feel for each other, any expectations there might be for the class or to just generally get to know one another. You don’t have to tell them your life’s story on the first day or even have a long conversation, it’s truly whatever you’re comfortable with, but even a short conversation will go a long way. You don’t want to be that person that tries to start building that relationship during the middle or end of the semester just because you need something from them.
In my own personal experience, professors just want to see that you’re willing to at least try your best and put in the necessary effort to not only pass the class but to also try and learn the information being taught. The worst thing you could do is just try and skate your way through by doing the bare minimum, cheating, using AI or syphoning your work off of other people in your class. The more willing you are to truly participate, answer questions and get your assignments in on time, the more willing your professor will be to help you when the time comes. Remember, your professor is only going to put in as much effort as you do, so if you’re not willing to do what it takes, neither will they.
You also want to keep in mind any future opportunities your professors could offer you once you’ve gotten acquainted. They know the in’s and out’s of whatever field or career you’re looking to enter. If you can prove that you’re serious and/or passionate about a certain area or topic, you’ll be at the forefront of their minds when internships, awards and different opportunities come around.
Outside of academia, professors are people too, who were once in the same position you are in currently. They understand the ups and downs of life and how that could eventually disrupt school and your focus. Believe me when I say, the majority of professors out there are up to the task of hearing you out, being around to chat or rant about the bad week you’re having. There have been many occasions where I sat in a professors or advisors office just to check-in and pass some spare time. That’s one of the beauties of being a part of a small university that ultimately survives on the pillar of community. Professors, deans, administrators — if they’re good at their job — they understand that it takes a village. And nine times out of ten, they want to be a part of your village.
So make sure you do yourself the favor, put in the work early, participate, show up, make the effort, and I promise when it comes down to it, your professors will be in your corner when it matters most. It’s just up to you to make sure you’ve put your best foot forward when it comes to building that relationship with your professor.
Sasha Ndisabiye
Sasha Ndisabiye is a 2024 graduate of Langston University with a degree in broadcast journalism. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief of The Gazette.
