Microsoft Word: The Woes of Owning a Mac in a PC-Friendly University

I have been using Microsoft Word since I've been using a computer... which is virtually since forever. As this class progresses, I have noticed that owning a Macbook Pro has hindered me quite a bit in terms of system compatibility. I was sick for ONE day and all the assignments I did on my Mac were void because they wouldn't convert to the PC format! It is excruciatingly annoying. I can't do any of this homework at the comfort of my own laptop! I have never used Word for drawing, so I would like to learn how that works. (On a MAC, preferably.) Heeeelllllppppp.

Cheers,

Kendra