College Lesson Learned #45

#45- Nobody warns you that the week before finals is actually WORSE than final week.

People have a tendency to tell some false stories. I’ve been told by many people that finals are terrible and they are the worst thing in the world and all that jazz. Whether intentional or not, they lied.

What many people don’t understand is that the week before is much, much worse than the previous week by far. The week prior to finals I like to call Silent Week. It is the week in which almost all of campus shuts down and the library reaches maximum capacity. Not a sound can be heard in the dorms and everyone looks at you in the library if you inhale too loudly. People disappear and you aren’t sure if they’re even still alive or if they have a toothbrush and a shower in the computer labs.

Why is this? I’m glad you asked.

This occurs because of procrastination and poor planning (on both the professor and students’ part). This week is the week that all your portfolios, term papers, and projects are due. All your professors think that they are the only professor with which you are taking a class.

Let’s do the math: let’s say you’re taking about 16 credits, which is more or less 4-5 classes. So let’s say that in each class you may have at least one term paper, portfolio, or semester project. If you’re writing a term paper, that’s probably 8-15 page paper in which you have to research, write, and edit before that day. A portfolio, being a collection of your works from over the semester, may only require one new work, probably under five pages, but you have to edit everything from the semester on top of that. As far as projects go, I’m not an engineering or science major of any sort, so I won’t pretend I know anything of that sort, but I can imagine it’ll be hard.

So with all that work, those large portions of your grade are usually due on the last day of actual classes. Now most classes meet either twice or three times a week, making most to all of your work due in two days. That’s a lot of work in a short amount of time, especially if you’re a procrastinator like me.

Then after you turn all of that in, all there is left to do is study for finals. Finals week isn’t too exciting. People kind of just sit around. Nothing happens.

Moral: Finals week > Silent Week

College Lesson Learned #44

#44- Come up with some tricks other than caffeine when staying up late. You’ll need it eventually.

Despite what people might actually think, staying up late is a science and not an art. If anyone ever says differently, tell them that they’re wrong… respectfully. I don’t want no fights.

So why is it a science and not an art? Good question. Let me briefly explain.

Art is a form of expression, communication, and possibly a way of life. Although some may say that staying up late is a way of life for college students, the evidence is clear that this is a science. Science pertains to the laws of nature, human physiology, and has a clear and concise way of replicated testing. In fact, if you disagree, try out my steps to not sleeping and see if they work. And if you agree, well then hopefully I’ve presented some new data that you can use for your own trials.

Step  1- Have a drink

No alcohol. Not what I mean. You should have a drink no matter what it is. I do highly recommend, fizzy, bubbly, and/or drinks that are absolutely loaded with caffeine, but water will also work. Also make sure that you have A LOT of it so that you will have to get out of your seat to either refill or to grab another. Motion is the key. If you want to further improve results, put your beverage into a smaller glass or cup.

Step 2- Eat some food

This is where the freshmen fifteen comes into play. Don’t eat something heart like a bowl of soup or a turkey sandwich, have something unhealthy, sugary, and/or spicy. Chocolate, a favorite candy, or some form of potato chips will suffice. Jalapeno cheddar Cheetos on average yield the best results.

Step 3- Work in a quiet place with SOME distractions

I never liked working at the library, it just never seemed to do it for me. I would work in my room, but I would leave the door open, inviting people that I possibly didn’t want, walking into the room. If every so often you have the loud person playing Rock Band or Call of Duty, or a stranger walking into your room, hey it kept you up didn’t it?

                Sub-step 3a- If you are an auditory learner, one who likes to listen to music while you work, please do so. However, make sure that you pick loud songs that get the bass and your heart pumping. Pretty much any guitar hero song will do the job.

Step 4- Take breaks to move

Get up and walk around. Slap yourself in the face. Do whatever it takes to stay physically active.

Step 5- Take a shower if after 2am.

I am a strong believer in the belief that nothing good happens after 2 am… with the exception of a shower. Showers are a sure way to make sure that life is good, you’re alive, and to rejuvenate and reawaken from the monotonous tapping of a laptop or the scratch of a pencil on paper.

I guarantee that these five steps will make your life easier when staying up and doing that paper that you had two-ten weeks to do, yet you never have time until the night before to do.

Moral: Staying up late is what cool kids do.