Originally Posted by Cubdriver

Are you a private pilot yet? If not, insert "student pilot" into your clearance call (on the ground). "SLC Clearance, student pilot N123AB, VFR departure to the west"- only provide an altitude request if the ATIS says to give one. That gets you more patient radio handling and it is in the AIM for students to announce themselves. You do not need to insert it into every transmission just when initial radio contact is made so they know who they are dealing with. You'll get gentler handling.