Students are expected to make it to classes and to be on time. Still, over the past few years, I have observed a connection between poor academic performance and students who are consistently tardy or who skip classes often.

Students who choose to form good academic and personal habits are more likely to have personal success later in life. Students with poor attendance records risk failing their classes and decrease their chances of graduating from high school or getting a good job.

I have also observed that students with poor attendance were more than likely to engage in risky behaviors such as delinquency and drug use. Unfortunately, many students who tend to skip classes do so with friends. Like the quote says, “Friends are like buttons on an elevator. They will either take you up or they will take you down.” With that in mind, students should realize they have the power to decide where they want to go in life.

So before deciding to skip class or accumulate tardies, consider this: How will others view your behavior? How will poor academic choices impact your future? Finally, what can you do to change poor habits to ensure a better life for yourself?