I'm upset, I feel bad, etc.

Since I'm not your parent, I can't really read your mind.

If something is eating you TELL ME.

You don't have to tell me your life story in detail if you don't feel like it. (Though you may do so, if you wish to.)

But give me a quiet clue that you aren't having a good day. This is an requirement, not a suggestion. You are in my class, you are my student, I have to know roughly what's going on. Otherwise, I'm going to be pushing you pretty hard to perform, because that's my job.

Secondly, if you are going to sit in my class feeling lousy, angry whatever, sit a minute and decide if you can do anything about it: See the nurse, see a councelor, go home, etc.

Third, if you decide to stay in class, soldier through what you can. But if you can't function pretty well in class, go home. Not being exempt from a final won't kill you.

Dear hearts, when you are an adult, which will happen surprisingly soon, people will depend on you for things when you aren't feeling cheerful and well-- your coworkers, your customers, your children, your family and friends, and you will have to perform.

There will be a lot of times when you will need to take care of business (TCB) even if you feel rotten...

Finally, TCB might actually make you feel better... I know it does for me sometimes.