Each year, students ask me to write letters of recommendation for them for jobs or graduate school or for leadership positions here at Pepperdine. Most of the time I can say without hesitation, “Sure, I’d be thrilled to.” But occasionally I have to have an unpleasant conversation where I say, “Well, you did really well on the tests, and I know you’re incredibly smart”—here’s the hard part—“but you didn’t really contribute to the class very much,” or “it seemed like you were more into Facebook than our discussion,” or “you showed up late half the time.” If that’s the case, it’s going to be hard for me to write the kind of glowing recommendation you need.
So this year I thought I’d be proactive and tell you how I prepare to write that letter you’ve just asked me for, so you can plan ahead.
First, I pull out my grade book. (I’ve still got one for every student I’ve ever taught.) I look at what classes I had you for and how you did on your quizzes, tests and papers. When I write your letter, I describe those courses and how you did in them. (Don’t worry; I highlight your strong points. If you struggled at one point but finished strongly, that’s what I will emphasize. Or, if you didn’t blow the top out of the class but were consistent in doing the best work you were capable of, I’ll stress that.)
Then I turn to what I call the “citizenship” paragraph, where I talk about whether you demonstrated discipline and commitment to the work, whether you contributed to a positive environment in our class, how respectful you were of me and of your fellow students, whether you demonstrated character and integrity, and so forth. (By the way, this is the kind of thing that future employers really look for!)
Here are the kinds of things I want to be able to say about you in my “citizenship” paragraph: • (Your name) impressed me not just academically, but as a person … • She was always prepared … consistently on time … faithful in her attendance and participation … • He went out of his way to seek me out in order to make sure he was on track with his assignments … • She is a person of integrity and character … • He was always kind and respectful toward those around him … • I could count on him to be fully engaged in whatever topic we were discussing … • She was truly a joy to have in my class … Of course, I can only say these things if they really describe what I saw in you.
Here’s what you can to do make sure that happens. Show up on time. Do your best. Stay engaged — be fully present in whatever we’re doing in class. Come by my office for a visit. Participate in the discussion. Be supportive of your fellow students (that means coming to class on the day the other groups are doing their presentations). Show passion for the subject. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, there might just be something in it for you after all.
Develop “good citizenship” habits, and you’ll find that they make your experience here at Pepperdine so much richer, but also, they’ll impress me. And someday, you might want a recommendation.
Gary Selby teaches in the Rhetoric and Leadership Program at Seaver College.
