For many of us at U of T, midterm season is wrapping up and grades are rolling in. My grades, I confess, were a wake-up call that led me to solemnly swear I’d start attending every lecture. Only two weeks into this journey, I’ve already broken my promise — and I don’t regret it. 

The moment we set ourselves up for failure as students is when we start attending lectures out of fear and guilt rather than for genuine learning. The taboo and shame associated with skipping lectures is, in my opinion, outdated, and something we as students should let go of. Attending lectures isn’t necessary in today’s education system; in fact, it’s often advantageous for some to skip them. 

Recorded lectures

Nowadays, I have found that professors often record lectures and post them online for students to use alongside supplementary materials, such as lecture slides. This allows students to work at their own pace and use learning styles that work best for them. 

Personally, I like to watch my lectures at double speed, because I don’t have the attention span for a three-hour lecture. I have no fear of missing anything important because I’m able to pause and rewind whenever I like — which you can’t do in a live lecture. 

Additionally, recorded lectures mean that you can learn at any time and place; so for those who find it difficult to focus at 9:00 am, or who prefer the comfort of their couch, recorded lectures are a lifesaver.

Academic burnout

Another factor that’s often overlooked by students is the danger of academic burnout. It’s imperative for students’ mental and physical health to address symptoms of burnout and do our best to take care of ourselves during the academic year. 

A simple yet effective way to avoid burnout is to take a break when you feel overwhelmed — even if that means missing class on a random Wednesday afternoon. Commitment to lectures shouldn’t override your health as a priority. Sacrificing your health will only lead to poor academic outcomes.

More than just attending lecture

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be committed to your education. Lectures are important, and they serve as a guide for what you will be tested on in each course. But lectures alone aren’t worthwhile if you don’t put in the work behind the scenes. 

In my experience, attending lectures creates a false sense of security — as if my mere presence in the classroom, my showing up, was enough. But this only led me to put off the work I had to do outside of the classroom: the assignments, readings, studying, and practice. A long day on campus left me tired and worn out, with no energy or motivation left to get any real work done.

I don’t mean to say that live lectures are worthless. I value them, not only for their contribution to my learning but for the experience. I value the privilege of sitting in a classroom at the top school in the country and being taught by an expert in my field of interest — or any field, for that matter. 

I enjoy waking up and getting ready for school, sitting at the front with my matcha, and annotating the slides on my iPad despite knowing I’ll never read them again. I look forward to that moment when the professor calls for a break, and I text my friends to meet up after class and explore the city. I love being a U of T student, and because lectures are a core component of that experience, I’ll never give them up entirely. 

But if I want to remain a U of T student — in good academic standing — I know I won’t be able to attend every lecture, or rely on the mere sense of productivity I feel from showing up to class. On days like today, I’ll shamelessly skip every lecture to focus on the work that needs to get done. My call to action is that you all let go of shame with me.

Nardos Wakjira is a second-year psychology major. She is also the Opinion Section’s Campus Affairs Columnist.