I’ve noticed that when I start a new semester all the students in my classes always sit in the same seat that they chose for the very first class.

If it is not available, they will find their original seat the next week when they arrive on time.

But if they tend to always arrive late, they sit in the back.

The front row almost always contains above average students.

• People look for ways to be safe and feel comfortable instead of changing seats and meeting new people.
• Sitting in the back makes it harder to be called on (unless the professor knows that and calls on the back rows first).
• It’s easier to be on your phone and digital devices in the back of the room unless the professor has great vision (I do).

Feeling safe in your comfort zone is a big deal.

Switching things up has its merits, too — you are training the pathways in your brain to take small risks, seek out discovery and meet new people.

Break a routine to discover something or someone new.