Sitting in the front row

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I hate sitting in the front row, but somehow I got stuck up there:banghead: I started out in the middle, which is where I like to sit, but then one day I showed up and a couple people were sitting in "my" seat. The only spots left were the very back, or the very front :down: I just can't really see the instructor, I have to turn sideways in my chair to feel like I'm participating. Plus I feel like there is resentment toward those sitting in the front row (silly I know) and I just don't want to be singled out at this point in the school year.

Am I just being paranoid, or do other's not like sitting in the front either? I just hate to make people mad, but I'm going to have to show up early and reclaim a middle seat. I know no one "owns" a seat, but you know how people can be about their "spot"

I am one of those front seat people. I have a blind eye so I want to make sure I can see well. I usually will get to school 1/2 hour earlier just to make sure my seat is saved. I know it is really lame, but I feel very territorial over the seat. If I don't make it early my friends will save a seat, and I usually will save theirs. I find I do well on tests and that the teacher's usually give me high grades on my papers, even when I turn them in going OMG that is total junk.

You just have to pay attention to their lectures and make sure you are never late, don't yawn, and appear interested.

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It's simple for me, I sit where I can see the instructor, the board or the screen and where I catch everything that's going on. I'm the kind of person that wants to read people, so that includes the non-verbal communication. As far as getting noticed by the teacher, I'm a blurter, won't win in Jeopardy because I think out loud :uhoh3:, so wherever in the room I might be I 'd make some kinda noise anyway. I prefer to sit 2-3 rows from the door and just behind the front seats. Oh, I get proprietorial about my seat, too.

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I'm a "front row person". I hate sitting anywhere but up front. It is where the teacher can most easily remember me, I can focus the best (no seeing ppl play w/ their hair or pass notes or whatever). I never honestly thought I would be "resented" for wanting to be closer to the teacher, lol, but I dont suppose Id care even if I did think about it.

I feel the same way. I always sit up front. The teachers always know who I am. :) And I am not distracted by all the stuff going on in the classroom. It also helps me hear and see better.

As a former college professor, I can tell you that the people who sit in the back row, hunched in a corner, are usually the least participatory students. The ones in the front are usually the first ones to raise their hands to ask or answer a question. And the ones in the middle rows can be either type of student or anywhere in between! :chuckle

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After reading all of the comments, I feel happy.

The rule is: Sit in a part of the class where you are comfortable AND have traditionally performed your best.

There are tests that students can take to determine the type of energies that they possess and learning styles that work best for them. The tests will sometimes recommend the location of the class where you should sit.

Whatever works for you... go get it tiger.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I would always find myself nodding off and not paying attention in the back, or getting distracted by my peers. I've moved myself up to the front now and even though I'm audio recording my instructor, I think I'm going to be taking better notes and definitely participating more in class. I swear I have undiagnosed ADD-inattention type and I am very much distracted by the people around me. If I don't see them, they don't bother me as much and I can always attempt to tune out the chatterboxes whispering in the back. We'll see how it works this year.

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Well, you might. Until you had a flat tire, or ran out of gas, or something came up, or any of a million different things that could cause you to be late. If your draconian policy backfired and you failed med/surg, I think you'd be a little less in favor of it.

The chronically late student needs to be addressed, individually, by the instructors.

Totally off topic but I agree with this whole heartedly. In the world of hospitals and big "board of directors" patient care, it seems there is a lot of "sweeping rule change" as opposed to dealing one on one with specific problem areas.

Lets change the way things work starting here in nursing school! :)

I do think its inappropriate to be late so much though. Our school has a 3 tardees = 1 absence and 3 absence = failure policy, which, as much as I don't like sweeping general policies, seems to work well. If your tire is flat once, its an accident. If its flat 9 times? well then you would lose your job anyways so it works out :)

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
Lol I'm sorry and I don't mean to be rude, but this is so highschool. :uhoh3:

Yup, middle-schoolish also. Unfortunately, thought, I've seen it myself one time too many in my nursing program.

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I hate the front row too, but my study buddy went to a seminar where she was told that the front row was the best place to sit. So, even though I hate it:banghead:, we sit in the front row.

I like to sit toward the back on the outside edge. Close to the door if possible (I'm totally claustrophobic!).

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Specializes in LTC, subacute CNA.

I always sit in the front, close to the door, except for my last class where I decided to give one of the middle rows a try. I couldn't concentrate. It was noisy back there and the girl behind me kept tapping me on the shoulder to ask me questions. I normally wouldn't mind that every once in a while, but this was constant. Back to the front for me!

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I don't necessarily sit on the front row, but I would like to to tune out the talkers and keep me from getting caught up in thise juicy conversations as well....:)

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I always sit in the front row if I can. I am easily distracted, and prone to daydreaming. (ADD inattentive type) I found that my grades went up once I started sitting in the front.

This is so me. Are you me? Because I think you are. I sit in the front row and I still start daydreaming if they talk about something I already know and then I'll come out of my daydream and they are on a completely different subject. I used to always sit in the back corners but I learned that for me at least, I understand it a lot better in the front since I know the teacher can see me when I start doodling on my papers. :eek::clown: It keeps me in line.

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Yeah, if you are in the front, the teacher notices if you are daydreaming. Then, they'll ask you a question or something to keep you on track.

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