Author: Yvette Ndlovu
Everyone can name one or two struggles that all Cornell students endure. High on the list are prelims, awful suitemates, the catastrophe of running out of BRBs before finals week and, of course, a climate that’s out to get you. But people rarely ever talk about one struggle which takes center stage when I think about college life: the dreaded participation grade. Why is it that these points which can boost your grade by just opening your mouth are not fully taken advantage of by everyone in class? Why is there always one kid who never says anything all semester?
First of all, it’s not always the case that someone who rarely participates in discussions hasn’t done the readings. Although oftentimes it is the case, it’s Cornell, things happen. That being said, it must be understood that a lot of the time the kids who don’t participate are those who are really, really shy.
Speaking in front of 40+ people, or even worse a lecture with over 200 people, can be pretty daunting for someone with social anxiety. It is disheartening that professors fail to account for social anxiety when determining the participation grade, misconstruing “low participation” for disinterest. But being quiet does not mean a student isn’t putting any effort into a class. It’s not really fair that something like this can bring your entire grade down.
The participation grade thus causes a lot of stress because it can detract from the otherwise exceptional grades one may get on assignments and tests. Case in point: I can finish all the readings, pull all nighters for midterms and do well on tests, but when it comes to discussion sections, I shut down. It’s like my brain takes a nap, only to reawaken after the class is over. While other people seem at ease hearing the sound of their own voice, I always try to be as inconspicuous as possible–something that’s difficult to do when you’re the only person of color in most classes and professors thus tend to know your name first. Most people would revel in this attention, but for me it’s a nightmare because participation is a hard limit. It’s up there with my fear of prelims. Am I the only one who goes through the motions, breaks into a cold sweat, grip my chair a little harder to stop the room from spinning whenever I have the rare courage to raise my hand? For those of us who don’t see the need to always talk, the participation grade is a false reflection of our capabilities.
The reality of the matter is that you cannot judge a person based on how often they speak. They say, after all, that it’s the quiet ones you’ve got to look out for. There could be so much going on behind a stony face. That kid whose voice you never hear all semester might just be packing pure gold in his or her head yet cannot find a way to effectively articulate their opinion. Some people are just thinkers or writers and not talkers–we shouldn’t have to be punished for that.
Unfortunately for us shy people, class participation is just one of those things we can’t get around. Until then, us socially inept students must stick together and share some tips on how to get through it. As vexing or daunting as it may seem, facing your public speaking fears will all be worth it when you get a sick participation grade. So go forth and get those participation points like a boss!
