When it comes to creating a strong rapport with any member of society, it is very important to create a strong form of communication. Nowadays, there are many advanced and diverse mediums that individuals use to create some form of communication with his/her friends, family members or significant others. Society as a whole has become desensitized to social awareness of one another and has become mental slaves to other diluted forms of communication. These specific forms include texting, social media, and texting applications such as WhatsApp. You want objective proof? Go to any social setting for example: a restaurant, a park or maybe even a social family gathering on a glorious Sunday afternoon. In these types of social settings, you will find an abundance of people distracted by their own electronic gadgets instead of engaging in an intellectual dialogue with their fellow cohorts. They are more concerned with who “liked” their late Friday night selfie rather than injecting a few thoughtful ideas and statements within their parent’s dinner conversation. As a result, many of us have become more socially awkward as the years pass by and have lost the skill to engage in a proper form of communication.

This is why it is imperative nowadays to have more social tact while using communication as the major key component in understanding one another. In higher education, it is no different. A strong bond between the student and professor is very crucial to a successful academic career. Some students know the significance of establishing a strong camaraderie with their professors, which in correlation sets the tone for a more optimistic pathway of high educational success. Other students lack the social skills and they are inapt to even engage in a formal dialogue or even at times to construct a logical complete thought. This is very detrimental to any student who wants to have a massive rate of college success. As student at Florida National University one must engage with his/her college professor when a “typical’ situation arises. Whether it’s an incomplete grade, lost assignment, missing classes or even not having internet access for your distant learning classes due to morbid weather; it’s always prudent to communicate formally with your college professor. There is actually no excuse for someone not to create a “communication bridge” with his/her professor. With so many avenues of communication such as smartphones, texting applications, e-mail, and even that “state of the art” invention called a telephone, there should be no plausible excuse that can be fabricated to explain the lack of communication.

How can we communicate more effectively with our professors at Florida National University? There are three specific ways in which a student can communicate with his/her professor. The first way is through direct dialogue which is a simple “one to one” conversation which can suffice any academic matter with your own professor, so don’t be shy to engage in conversation. Another way is through e-mail. This method will also fulfill any remaining academic issues with your professor. In addition, you will create proof that you actually spoke with him/her if nothing gets resolved. Use your e-mail as a “receipt” of conversation. Finally, an electronic chat is another avenue in which online students can take. If you are currently taking an online class, you can actually use an “electronic chat” through the Blackboard system. This is also an effective way to communicate with your professor.

In conclusion, creating a strong communication platform with your professor will help you excel academically in the long run. Take charge of the resources given to you so you can feel at ease when there is an “academic roadblock”. It is your responsibility as a student to take care of your academic career, and at the end, you will thank yourself for taking all the required measurements when times get rough. Both you and your professor will benefit from it and you will have a sense of solace knowing that you took the proper steps to take care of your academic situation.

Gabriel Leon
Academic Advisor
(305)821-3333 Ext. 1069