Professor Stress
I love one of my professors as a person and choir director. She's got a great personality, really involved in community service, good role model... As a professor though... she's killing me. I never know when things are due (including presentations), what assignments we're going to have added on that weren't in the syllabus/course outline, what the assignments even are supposed to be, and how we're being graded. What she says in class often conflicts with what she has in the course outline, which when asked about those conflicts she often just says "Check the Canvas, follow that", but it doesn't help when you get to class and nothing is what Canvas says its supposed to be. Even today, we have homework that we were assigned randomly last class that is now in the course outline supposedly "due", but there's nowhere to turn it in or access the materials to do said homework. I feel like crying every time I think about this class at this point out of frustration, and even start feeling self hate because I did something "wrong" by not turning things in. I've literally stepped out of class to go cry in the bathroom more than once. I've sent her an email about the advanced communication regarding assignments (seeing as that's one of my university accommodations that she HAS to follow), and even after that, nothing is changing. I don't want to go over her head, because I really respect her, but I don't know what else to do.
I haven't even considered full on lying about being sick when I feel completely fine to get out of class in years. Today I thought about it and kind of actually want to. It's been wearing on my mental health and its only getting harder to keep together as finals and mothers day get closer. As I'm finishing up typing this, I honestly just feel like screaming and crying.
@pandaprincess9 That sounds so frustrating! It's completely reasonable to expect clear deadlines. I bet some of the other students are probably frustrated too. It sounds like it is really wearing on your mental health. It sounds like you have already tried to talk to her too. Do you have student liaison or somebody who could help you talk to her? At my school we have student reps who can talk to the professor.
@Daydreamer47 You were right that other students are frustrated; we ended up having a discussion about this issue as a class the day I posted this. My professor heard through another professor that a lot of us were feeling very stressed out, and wanted to clear the air (I guess other students talked to the other professor about what's been happening), and try to establish a schedule for the next few weeks. So far, there's still confusion on assignments unfortunately. Just today we had a test I wasn't prepared for because it wasn't listed on the course outline. I did well luckily. I don't remember it being talked about during class. It's just an aspect of my life that I feel is taking up more than a reasonable amount of room. I have other important things to worry about, ya know?
@pandaprincess9 Wow that's a bit wild that a whole test wasn't listed! I would panic tbh; glad it went okay and you were able to role with it.
Glad you have taken a lot of good steps forward and have been advocating for yourself. <3 Hope you can take a break when this is all over and maybe write the prof a stern review haha.
@Daydreamer47 Also we do have people that can talk to our professors, I'm trying to avoid it but if i need to, I'll loop them in to help me.