Gaels, nothing beats the feeling of packing up your laptop (or in my case, “Craptop”), closing your books and finally going to sleep—especially when you realize that you will have to get up for class in three hours.  Isn’t that just the best?  Watching the sunrise from your dorm room as carpal tunnel begins to set in; there’s nothing better!

In the glorious midterm period, students received special reminders to get rest to alleviate the stress of exams and papers.  While I’m glad the administration is looking out for our well being, I can’t help but laugh at their advice.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge proponent of sleep—I just don’t think that it is entirely feasible for some of us on campus.

Gaels, let me draw your attention to writer’s exhibit B. Due to climate change, the snow covering of journal articles for Book Mountain had melted and was placed in a folder until the weather cools. Here’s the problem, Gaels—Book Mountain has proved almost as daunting to climb as Mount Everest.

Given the courses in which I am enrolled as well as my majors, readings are to be expected. What was unexpected, however, was how easy it is to fall behind. In fact, I am almost certain I have not been fully caught up with all of my work since about Aug. 23.

Is it because there are a lot of readings? Perhaps. Is it because the social networking sites are a complete distraction? Not entirely—although it should be noted that Outlook is an equal distraction. Instead, Gaels, I think the problem is there are simply not enough hours in the day.

Not only is there a great deal of reading to do, but there is also that one thing that always tends to creep up on you: the final project. Gaels, I don’t know about you, but I find myself laughing whenever my professor mentions the final project during the semester.  This is how it usually goes down.

Professor X: “I hope you all have been keeping up with your final projects, they’re due before you know it.”

Class: “Yes, we have! When we’re not reading the 100 pages of assigned readings for this class, we’re doing the extensive reading for our final projects. I’m sure they will be done at least a week before the due date.”

Wait, that doesn’t happen in your class? Probably because there exist very few students who are legitimately working on the final project while also keeping up with assignments due during the semester itself. Although, if you are reading this and happen to keep up with assignments during the semester as well as dedicating ample time to the final project, please contact me with the secrets to your success.

Not to be all “woe is me,” but I have three final projects to complete for the end of the semester—all of which require a great detail of reading and, frankly, time that I don’t have to commit to during the semester itself. Therefore, I end up working on the project in the final weeks of school and doing my favorite thing—watching the sunrise from my dorm room while carpal tunnel sets in. So, when a professor asks if I’ve been keeping up with the final project, I just want to look him or her in the eye and say, “Seriously?”

That said, I’m not one to slack off. I consume way too much coffee, stay in Ryan Library until close and return to my room to continue working. I hate not completing assignments or failing to do the readings, but as it turns out I’m not Wonder Woman.

There is not enough time to complete every single assignment, work on projects for your extra-curricular activities and waste time on Entertainment Weekly’s website for hours on end. It’s hard to keep up with everything and I think we all understand that—that’s why God invented coffee.

Gaels, don’t let your friends call you crazy because you stayed up until 5 a.m. only to wake up again at 7. Remind them that you’re not crazy—you’re dedicated to your studies. So, grab a cup of coffee at  8 in the evening, crack open a book from Book Mountain and start reading until the sun comes up.  And remember, only a few more weeks until the best time of the year: FINALS!

To contact The Ionian’s Amanda Kelly, e-mail her at [email protected]