Thanks for getting up on a Saturday morning
In January and February, I typically spend my Saturdays in various corners of the country at campus leadership conferences or retreats. Student Affairs professionals and volunteers work for weeks or months to put together a full day of programming to help make student leaders more informed and more effective.
Inevitably, the hard working professionals welcome their students at 10 a.m. with the words, “Thanks for getting up on a Saturday morning. I really appreciate it. I know it’s asking a lot.”
No, it’s not asking a lot. Not really.
It’s time to stop perpetuating this counterproductive norm. When did sleeping until noon become an inalienable right for college students? Why do we apologize to students for asking them to wake up at a reasonable time for an activity that is for THEIR benefit?
There are many victims in this world. A college student leader waking up at 9:30 a.m. is not one of them.
Students aren’t apologizing for staying up until 2 a.m. the night before your leadership event. Just once, I’d love to hear a student say, “No, dear advisor, please accept my apology for showing up with bloodshot eyes and ratty hair to the leadership conference you’ve worked so hard planning all month. I really felt the need to get trashed last night, and I’m dragging ass this morning. I know that doesn’t make you feel very appreciated. I’d like to thank you for giving up your Saturday for our benefit when I know you aren’t paid anything extra for doing it.”
Wouldn’t that be nice?
If we were starting these conferences at 6:00 in the morning, then I’d understand the need to congratulate people on getting up, dressing nicely, and being awake and alert. That’s early for most people. But 10 a.m.? C’mon, people.
If we’re supposed to be preparing these young men and women for the real world, shouldn’t convening for a 10 a.m. meeting be a reasonable expectation? When I have an early Saturday morning commitment, I take it easy the night before and make sure I’m awake and prepared the next morning. It’s what adults do, and it’s what we need to start expecting from our students – particularly those we deem “student leaders.”
Do ministers apologize to their congregations for getting up on Sunday morning? Do professors apologize for their early morning classes? Does the foreman at the factory apologize to his workers and pass out donuts asking for forgiveness? No, no, and definitely, no.
Students don’t apologize when they call advisors at 11 p.m. with a crisis, and they don’t bat an eye to schedule a meeting at 9 p.m.. Why are student affairs professionals apologizing to them for asking them to be awake when Starbucks has been open for FIVE HOURS?
Make the start of your event energizing. Make the content valuable. Serve breakfast burritos.
But, stop apologizing for asking people to wake up.
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