: How to Work with a Professor who is Younger than you

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(402 Words)
Many people find it challenging to work with a professor who is younger than them. When we are young, we are often think of people who are older as more knowledgeable and people who are younger as not as much so. It can be difficult to go to school and see this reversal, but of course you want to be successful in the class. The following tips can help you work with a younger professor.
Let go of any bias
Even though you are grown you may still hold a bias against those who are younger than you. You may have difficulty working with a professor who is younger than you if you just assume that they are not competent in their job because they are younger. Just because they are not as old as you does not mean that they cannot do a very good job. If you have this automatic bias, then try to work your way past it and look at them for who they are.
Look at their accomplishments
You may find it easier to work with your professor if you look to see what he or she has done to make them qualified. Many professors are quite accomplished and have written books and essays or made other important discoveries. Most have been to quite a number of years of school. Look at these and you might not feel as bad about the fact that they are younger than you.
Try to push it out of your mind
Instead of focusing on their age, focus on their teaching and other characteristics. Someone’s age is one of the first things we often notice about another, but often as time passes you do not even think of it. Try to push the fact that the professor is younger from your mind. You can even pretend that he or she is older than you instead if you think that it would help you deal with them. Instead pay attention to how he or she runs the class.
Working with a younger professor can be challenging, but with effort it can be done. No matter what it is important not to let on to your professor that you feel bad because of their age because you do not want them to get insulted, especially when they are in charge of your grade. Utilize the above strategies to deal with this situation successfully.