Being prepared and ready for class sounds simple but it makes a big difference in how students see you. I could not stand professors who were disorganized, sloppy or unprepared, even if they knew their material. It made me feel as if they didn't care and were trying to be charming to compensate. Now that I teach, I make sure that I am always prepared and ready. Whether I like it or not, I am a role model and need to set a standard of professionalism for my students.
