For some students, opting out of class is a one-time thing, while for others, it can evolve into a pattern. GCSU students sometimes find themselves falling into the trap of skipping classes and not being able to break free from the cycle.
Whether motivated by unimportance, peer pressure or a short expression of free will, skipping often leads to unintended consequences that can negatively impact a student’s academic journey. Much like a gateway drug, the first skipped class opens the door to habits that can become harder to reverse. Some students may not even realize when they have crossed the threshold and make the effort to step back if the cycle has already become too ingrained.
“Once you skip one class, it’s easier to justify skipping another,” said Anna Schofil, a sophomore nursing major. “I have done that a few times and realized that it is easy to fall back into that trap. It’s like a slippery slope.”
Students may find themselves skipping one class one week and then skipping three the next. There are many factors that play into a student’s reason to skip, with perceived unimportance being one of the top reasons.
“Honestly, it’s kind of thrilling,” said Ramsey Riggins, a sophomore business administration major. “Skipping one class does make skipping another feel easier. But I also feel like I’m not falling too far behind. My grades are still looking pretty good.”
Riggins mentioned that some of the GCSU students can relate to a mindset that skipping will not set them back and is essentially harmless in nature.
Research suggests that missing class does have a negative effect on a student’s grades. A study from Stanford University found that students who miss more than 10% of their classes are significantly more likely to experience declines in grades and overall academic success.
“For me, skipping class is not an option,” said Sierra Piland, a freshman political science major. “I think each lecture is just as important as the last. Even if my friends try to convince me, I remind myself that everything connects in the end.”
Piland views skipping in a different light, seeing it as a damage to academic success. She explains that even if her friends are trying to tempt her, she recognizes where her priorities are.
Ultimately, skipping seems harmless at first, but its spiraling effects can lead to diminishing grades and a lack of motivation.
For others, like Riggins, there seems to be no negative outcome from it. Many believe that there are truly no consequences that stem from missing classes, but there is the possibility that the process of slipping grades has not taken effect yet. Research suggests that, like any habit, skipping class can lead to something much larger than intended.
A study conducted by researchers at UC Santa Cruz found that skipping class can lead to a habitual pattern. Students who missed a frequent amount of classes noticed their exam scores declining over the school year.
Many students joke about the parallel between skipping classes as a gateway drug. One or two missed classes seem like no big deal. As a person continues to get away with this, thinking they are not harming their academic performance, they begin to do it more and more. Over time, those students may find themselves in a predicament where they are underprepared for their assignments and exams.
Skipping class may seem like a harmless act of independence, but its potential to spiral into a habit serves as a reminder that small choices can build up into larger consequences.