Obscure to Outstanding: Being an Office Hours Regular 

Julia Forest

Copy Editor

Believe it or not, but my favorite thing to do before or after class is to go to office hours. At this point, it’s just as much a part of my schedule as classes are. 

I’ll admit, I’ve been going to “office hours” before office hours. In high school, I would visit teachers during the five minute passing periods, which really only gave the teacher and I two minutes to talk, and then speed walk (because no running in the halls!) across Wachusett Regional High School before the bell rang. 

But here’s the thing: You would never see me in Founders Hall during my freshman year. It intimidated me! I wasn’t very outgoing at the time, and like every freshman, I only knew a handful of professors. 

I have to give credit to my Intro to Literature Professor, Kate Donius, who is now the Assistant Director of the Academic Support Center, for frequently getting me into Founders Hall. Whenever a due date for an essay was coming up, she required all of her students to meet with her one-on-one in her office to go over rough drafts. But after she gave me feedback, she always took the time to just ask what I was up to and how my classes were going. It was so kind, and we instantly built a rapport with each other. 

The next semester, when I no longer had Professor Donius, I would still regularly go to Founders to visit her and we would catch up. And then this turned into visiting Professor Gilbert, and Professor Norris, and Professor DiBiasio, and Professor Shields, and pretty much every professor I’ve had. I think office hours are fun, and more than half of the time, I’m just there to chitchat! Office hours are not just for students who need help or have questions. And the more you go, the more comfortable you’ll become. 

The only con I could possibly say about office hours is that I’m going to miss “making my rounds” around campus after I graduate! But I’m sure I’ll keep in touch with most of my professors in the future. 

All in all, take advantage of office hours! Your professors are there for a reason, and the reason is you! One of the best things about Assumption is how easy it is to build relationships with your professors, so don’t let that opportunity pass you by! At first, Founders was a building I was afraid to go into, but now it’s my favorite building on campus. I have made so many great memories in office hours and it’s all because I needed a little extra help.