Where Should You Sit in a Classroom?

You are a high school freshman entering your first day of class. Or maybe you are a first-year university student. Possibly you just landed a great new job and have a training class Monday morning.

Either way, where you sit is going to make an immense impression on how you are perceived.

I am not going to say your entire performance will be based solely on this decision. But I can say that it will definitely aid you to carefully consider this decision.

I would breakdown a classroom into four sections.

Back of the Class

This one is easy. We have all passed judgement at the person with the chair tilted, the foot up. The person sitting in the back who came to surf the internet and listen to music. They may be nursing a hangover or working on having one tomorrow.

• The Frustration

It can be annoying for the other sections to have the person sitting in the back show up late or ask a question which has not only already been answered but throughly discussed.

• The Exception

Sometimes non-conformists may parouse the back of the class, occasionally raising their hand with something revolutionary to say. When the instructor asks the usual: “can you hear me back there?”, watch for those responding to see who is still a keener in disguise.

Front of the Class

“Yes?”

“I have a question sir…”

Sitting at the front of the class includes the added pressure to always be under the spotlight – paying attention.

The person sitting at the front always excels regardless of how annoying they are. They chose the seat so they have to live with the consequences of always being expected to know what’s going on.

The person at the front of the class read everything mandatory and even did the suggested readings. In fact, the person at the front of the class already read all the way through to the end of the book.

• The Frustration

Ok we get it – you are either very smart or think you are. But don’t worry it’s not hard to tell after two classes. Usually the ones who continue to ask questions believe there is no such thing as a dumb question – regardless of what you’ve been told there are exceptions to every rule!

The person at the front of the class gets to speak to the teacher first after class because they are so close to them. Meanwhile, everyone else waits in line while the person at the front of the class asks their 12th and 13th questions of the session.

• The Exception

Unfortunately, society at times can still be quite superficial. For the good-looking person sitting at the front of the class this means less pressure.

The good-looking person at the front of the class gets a pass because everyone in the other sections gets the added pleasure of having eye candy for the duration of the class.

Also, those sitting at the front of the class who limit the amount of questions they ask are given points – bonus points for hating on a question asker!

Wallflower

The wallflower shows up late and still gets a comfortable seat against the wall. They may also be guilty of putting their leg up, although it is placed upon the adjacent chair and is not fully spread.

The wallflower is quite laid back – they have something nice to say or they don’t say it at all. And generally when they aren’t telling an anecdote about their personal life, they are contributing something relevant to the discussion.

They may have a unique presence about them and will look out the window – at “nature”.

• The Frustration

Wallflowers love to incorporate their personal interests with the class topic – which can have a dreadful impact on the length of the class.

They may tell a 5 minute story about a concert they attended and then tie it in with a one-liner on how they realized ‘x’ about the subject at hand and how it all suddenly makes sense because of the experience.

• The Exception

This one is simple – the exception is a wallflower who actually tells a story worth hearing about. Wallflowers can be good followers, taking on the creative aspects of a group project.

But watch out, their big ideas may just end up being that – unfulfilled potential.

Midsection

This section encompasses around 50% of the class. Midsectioners can vary in scope and may possess qualities of those in the other classifications nearest to them.

Those in the dead centre love to argue the status quo. Although no one really read the textbook, they will raise their hand when asked who didn’t – and then say something epic.

Midsectioners have a balance of all the other sections but are in the group of ‘mainstream’ students getting smashed together on the weekend.

Midsectioners aren’t all fun and games though. They want good marks and will do anything to get them – although they still end up with a B+.

• The Frustration

Midsectioners can be used to getting attention and being popular. This can lead to the class being ‘all about them.’

But don’t worry, once they get put in their place and start to falter they will stop showing up all together.

• The Exception

Many midsectioners have a good balance between all the other sections. They know when to raise their hand, share an anecdote, or when to put on their headset and trail off.

You will see them in the library sometimes and they are always willing to answer a question or help you find a book.

And despite whatever you might think, they know how to have a good time.

So where should you sit?

I’ll admit it – I have sat in all of these sections. And to be honest, my marks were quite accurate to the aforementioned descriptions.

Where you sit is the feng shui of education.

So what are your goals?

If you are looking for good marks sit at the front.

If you are looking to make friends sit in the middle.

If you are looking for a relationship be a wallflower.

And if you’re looking to get drunk hit up the back.