We understand, but...

We know and understand that you are people who run into some (or what seems to be all) of life's problems. However, please keep in mind that you are in this University with a complex mission: to improve yourselves as humans and professionals, to learn, graduate and be successful later in life. It is our (the professors) job to facilitate the process, by helping you in the academic realm. In order to be good facilitators, we need your full cooperation. As such, here are a few bullet points that you should adhere to as much as possible:

• Respect yourself and/or those who trust lending you money for a college degree. Keep your mission in mind, as others do too.
• Come to class on time and every time. Missing lecture and/or instruction time is hurtful to you.
• Learn to organize and separate various aspects of your complex student life.
• Disconnect from your social network while in class. I rarely see true emergencies where a text message has to be answered right away.
• Re-evaluate boredom in class. If you feel bored, there are three possible causes. Option 1: you are brilliant, in which case you could tutor a few fellow classmates after class or in out-of-class study sessions. Option 2: you decided there is nothing you care to learn from this course and your cell phone is a more appropriate venue for your attention. Option 3 (the one I see most commonly): you lagged behind material, and for some reason fail to catch up. This is the worst trap you can fall into. If this happens, please focus as much energy as you need to catch up and see your professor as soon as possible.
• Channel your emotions away from anger and blame. The best person to help you in almost any situation is yourself, and an angry you is not effective.
• Focus on the things you can control, as opposed to those you have no control over. In class, you have full control of your attitude and attention.
• Don't let any course topic go by without fully understanding it. Ask your professors, we have office hours.
• Be honest with yourself and those around you. Cheating of any type is untolerated and will be pursued dilligently.
• Learn to deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed---everybody is, you're not alone. Everyone has a different coping mechanism, find out what works for you.
• Know and fully understand your status as an adult, and as such, be prepared to take full responsibility for your actions.
• Learn to accept others for who they are, right along with with their weaknesses. Everyone can improve, many try, a few succeeed---be one of those. You too have shortcomings that others deal with.