Thanks be to Greg

My first “real” career job, I was astounded. People left to run errands, decided to work from home because they had furniture being delivered or were waiting for cable- or just because traffic was bad. They took long lunches, left early, didn’t call in to say they were sick and didn’t call if they were running late. The world of entry level hourly work I was used to was very different, “I’m not coming to work because I’m waiting for Comcast” would get you disciplined or fired. No one here seemed to care if you came or left or kept your schedule. And one day when I called in sick my boss says to me: “this is a career. You don’t need to talk to me about it if it’s less than 4 hours. You’re work is what matters. If your work isn’t suffering- then you are doing what you get paid to do. Put it on the calendar and feel better soon.” And I understood then. These people were here by choice, to do a job. Not out of duty or out of need for a check. They were professionals. They were trusted to..

... not act like immature kids being forced to punch a clock. Everyone carried their weight and those who didn’t, wouldn’t be there long of have a career in the industry at all when enough people had worked with them to know they were a “bad hire.” That’s the difference between the two- colleges and high schools. If you don’t want to be in college you can leave whenever you want. If you don’t want to do what you need to you will fail and they will still keep your money. You aren’t being forced and you aren’t likely on a free ride. It’s a time for you to figure out the basics of what it is to balance life and responsibilities. Most people’s first taste of freedom. So most college professors are both understanding of the fact that you are a child transitioning to adulthood and college acts in part as an adjustment period- but you are an adult and what happens is largely up to you.

@guest_ Well said. You mentioned how poor workers would be discovered and subsequently let go but left out the college equivalent. College professors are more laid back in their approach, usually, but they are also perfectly willing to fail a student for performing badly. A couple of keystrokes and maybe a signature and that's it, these student have failed and will need to repeat the course or find an alternative. Many a freshman straight out of high school have fallen into that trap and failed their courses.

Thank you @lucky11. And very true.