The reality of tardiness

Being tardy is something college students try to avoid as much as possible. Coming in late, disturbing class and possibly having to explain to professors the reason for being late might not be as big of an issue as students think.

Like it or not, students are late to class. Things like alarms not going off, not being able to find a parking spot or simply not being able to get to class in time are reasonable issues. Teachers have heard every excuse students have to give, but being tardy may not be as big of a problem as students make it out to be.

Heidi Ledet, psychology senior from Thibodaux, said she is no stranger to showing up late to her classes. With the stress of school and work, Ledet often finds herself taking every minute she can to sleep in and relax in the morning. This often leads to frequent tardiness.

Ledet said if she is 25-30 minutes late to a class, she will more than likely skip the class entirely. However, professors may think otherwise.

When asked how late is too late for students to show up to class, Alyson Theriot, department head of teacher education, said, “Five minutes is five minutes.”

Although not much of the class period has been missed, Theriot said attending even five minutes can be beneficial, and students should never pass up the opportunity to learn.

Theriot said as long as being tardy is not a habit, showing up late every once in a while is not an issue for her. She agrees we are all human.

Kim Thompson, adjunct Psychology professor, agrees with Theriot. She does not see tardiness as an issue. She said that if a student can attend even the smallest bit of class, it is important to getting the most information possible.

Thompson and Theriot both have heard various tardiness excuses. However, Theriot still sees issues with students being punctual for her evening classes, their tardiness due to work.  

Alli Comeaux, business junior from Morgan City, finds morning classes to be the hardest to attend due to her long commute.

Whether the cause was sleeping in, parking issues or a long commute, students regularly face the issue of tardiness. Both Comeaux and Ledet said that as they grow in their college career, they find tardiness to be less of an issue. Classes seem more important, and time management skills have better developed as they get ready to embark on their life outside of Nicholls State University.

If students struggle with tardiness, Theriot said figuring out the issue and making the minor adjustments necessary to get to class on time. Professors are usually very understanding, and they are there to help you succeed at Nicholls.