I see you, sitting in the middle of the classroom, with your laptop open. Maybe the professor thinks you're taking notes. After all, they can only see that your laptop is open and you're typing away. From behind you, however, I can see that you're messaging on your stupid group chat app.

Stop wasting everyone's time and money.

Once, in a literature class, a very sweet professor informed us that we didn't have to come to class. But, she explained, every single class period, when you break down your tuitiin, costs more than $100. That was before tuition increases. And that's at my small school - I'm sure it's more at bigger universities. So why on earth would you pay more than $100 to come to a class and group message your friends? Or do your online shopping? Or check your Facebook?

I can guarantee that all of that will still be around when you get out of class. There's no reason to waste class time like that. You came for an education, not to gossip with your friends about things that don't matter.

And you know what else? You're a distraction to everyone else sitting behind you. I'll admit, laptops in general are a distraction to me, even if you really are taking notes. When a professor says on syllabus day that they don't allow laptops in their classroom, I breathe a sigh of relief. That aside, it can be distracting to other students when you're constantly switching windows, chatting and shopping and browsing. It's annoying and unnecessary.

You're also wasting your professor's time. They came to class specifically to teach you, and you can't be bothered to give them your attention. I can guarantee that your professor would rather have stayed home and watched TV, or had the extra time to work on their own projects. I know professors who come to class when they can barely speak because they're sick, and you are wasting their time.

Is it worth it?

And remember, these aren't your only transgressions. You take advantages of professors who say they don't care of you bring a snack to class. A snack is a granola bar, maybe a bag of nuts. A snack is NOT a 5-piece chicken tender meal with a side of ketchup and fries. That is a meal, and it belongs in your dorm or on a bench in the hallway at best. A snack is not a rice bowl, or a burrito. Stop bringing your meals to class and then getting up in the middle of class to throw away your containers.

Stop bringing your phones and "forgetting" to turn them to silent. No one else appreciates that ring tone.

Stop turning around talking to your friends.

Stop falling asleep when the professor turns a film on.

Stop interrupting to ask if this will be on the exam. Just focus on the material.

Stop wasting thousands of dollars every year on an education that you clearly don't care about. Pay attention in your classes and leave the distractions at home, or else make the choice to stay home and eat your chicken and do your shopping and group chatting there.

Just go to class and pay attention. I promise you that you'll be fine. Believe it or not, I've managed a 3.6 GPA for the last three years, and I've never once brought a laptop to class. It's possible.