late

So, I have a problem. It's being late. Not just sometimes, but every single place I go. True, I could claim that my routine tardiness is the result of the fact that I don't own my own vehicle. But even so, I am often late when I'm walking to class, to meet someone for lunch, etc. 

So today I was late coming back from an off-campus class; this time I can say with confidence that it wasn't my fault. So upon arriving back at school I power-walk it to class, only to realize that my professor locks the classroom door ten minutes after the starting time. Thus I was faced with the following dilemma: do I admit defeat and walk away knowing that my presence will no longer count on the attendance sheet...or do I knock, interrupt the class and attempt to ignore all the awkward stares that would have resulted? Either way I am counted as absent, and somewhat ashamedly I admit that I simply walked away.

However, one question remains in my mind after this experience: why would my professor lock the door? I completely understand him not counting me as being present, especially considering I was ten minutes late. But why lock the door? Does he truly feel so passionate about students being on time that he would rather prevent any late students from attending entirely? This seems ridiculous to me. He is a somewhat quirky man, and I am tempted to wonder if he deliberately creates this awkward psychological situation for students, simply to test their willingness to endure social uncomfortableness for the sake of academia.  

And if he does indeed create this dilemma, did I fail his test by walking away. Perhaps all he wanted was an honorable display of bravery: for my knuckles to assertively knock on that door. True, it is entirely possible that I would have fallen victim to some witty comment concerning my lateness, but either way, I am already questioning my decision to bail.

Moral of this story...BE ON TIME.