Fail To Prepare, Prepare To Fail

(I work at the bookstore of a technical college. We have a large population of non-traditional students. It is the first day of class and a student who is in her forties comes to my register with her books.)

Me: “Okay. Anything else I can get for you today?”

Student: “Yeah. You can tell me where my class is?”

Me: “Well, I was never a student here, but I’ll try. What is the room number?”

Student: “I don’t know.”

Me: “What building is it in?”

Student: “I don’t know.”

Me: “Where’s your schedule? It will list the building and room number by your class.”

Student: “I don’t have it.”

Me: “You don’t have any schedule or paperwork from the school, no information on your class at all?”

Student: “No! All I know is my teacher’s name.”

Me: “I can’t help you. And honestly, I don’t understand how you could come to your first class so unprepared.”

Student: *obviously irritated with me* “Where’s the library, then?”

Me: “Go out this building and down that pathway. It’s the second building on the left—”

Student: “Forget it! I’m not walking that far!”

(She leaves.)

Me: “Good luck in college!”