Don’t fall behind

Hi, welcome to your new corporate University of New Mexico orientation and advisement. This is your first semester. You should be excited!  Your grade of C+ earned at a certified New Mexico high school has won you the right to pursue a college education. Oh boy.

Because you work thirty hours a week at Chic Fila, and you have to take care of your aging grandfather for twenty hours a week, we want to be sensitive to your schedule needs. This is why we recommend for your first year that you take eighteen hours each semester.

You will be done with school in a flash, and you will pay lower tuition rates. We used to tell students like you who had side jobs and family responsibilities to take twelve hours a semester, but then it took them so long to get through. They were hanging around forever. Today, though, thanks to our beloved corporate U., we want to rid ourselves of you as quickly as we can. Lucky you. Think of the efficiencies!

We here at your advisement center suggest you plan your weekly schedule carefully. For each hour you spend in the classroom, you should spend three hours preparing and studying. Let’s see…eighteen hours of class a week times three, that’s 54 hours a week you should spend on school outside of class. Taking care of grandad, that’s twenty hours a week, and work, of course, that’s thirty hours for a grand total of 122 hours. That leaves you fifteen minutes for bathroom time and an hour skateboard and I-pod time. Oh yes, sleeping? I forgot sleeping. That’s twenty minutes. Remember, plan for success. Use your time at corporate U. wisely. Think of us as your family urging you on to the finish line. Remember, don’t fall behind!




This piece was written by:

James Burbank's photo

James Burbank

James Burbank has written and published over 200 articles for regional and national publications such as Reuters International News Service, The World & I Magazine, National Catholic Reporter, Farmer’s Almanac, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, La Opinion, New Mexico Magazine, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque Tribune. He is author of Retirement New Mexico, the best selling book published by New Mexico Magazine Press, now in its third edition. He is also author of Vanishing Lobo: the Mexican Wolf in the Southwest, published by Johnson Books.

As a professional writing consultant, he has written and edited publications, video and radio scripts, annual reports, and investment information for a wide variety of corporate clients. A Lecturer II for the Department of English, Burbank has specialized in teaching technical writing and professional writing. His interests extend from composition and writing theory to environmental and nature writing. He has played a leadership role in developing and implementing the English Department’s teaching mentorship program.


Contact James Burbank

Responses to “Don’t fall behind”