The fall semester has come and gone, leaving only one thing between now and summer vacation – spring semester.
I couldn’t help but spend my winter break trying to do everything and inevitably doing about one-third. I feel the need for an après-vacation vacation (the recovery vacation).
The beginning of a semester has a way of muddling rational thoughts as students are ripped from their freedom rather than weaned off. I’m torn between what I want to do versus what I need to do.
On the one hand, sleeping in until noon and drinking coffee all day in my sweats will not be happening again for some time. And my day planner will no longer be littered with travel arrangements and movie times. This truly pains me.
On the other hand, the reliability and consistency within each passing school semester remains as comforting as the first.
I accept that throughout the semester I will wake up way too early, stress way too much and write way too many papers. Other predictabilities will include my printer jamming at least once if not twice, oral presentations (ugh) and the always-exhausting dilemma of my social life taunting my responsibility.
Nevertheless, I have learned that the apprehension leading up to a new semester is more exaggerated than the actual academic activities ahead.
I have learned that maintaining sanity throughout school (and life) requires perspective and realistic expectations. Not everyone is amazing at everything. Mediocrity may not make you the next Bill Gates, but at least it is less annoying to your peers than the alternative. If you can’t make honors, at least make friends.
Knowing people on campus, or students in general, can help get you through the day. Two students who despise the same professor can form a solidarity.
Whenever possible, steer clear of fluorescent lighting. Ironically, this involves all classrooms and library floors. Even if fluorescent lighting is touted as efficient and safe, a little fresh air and sun never killed anyone.
After being on campus for a little while, I realized I had missed the most important rule: Never make eye contact with students you don’t know. I suppose once everyone gets into class, we can all hold hands and sing “Kumbayah,” but until you cross the threshold, don’t bother making eye contact without your sunglasses. You might be surprised every now and again by a weak “hello,” but it is better to not waste your breath or take it personally if they don’t either.
Obviously the benefits of graduating college can be priceless and well worth the trouble. Plus ,I’m pretty sure most jobs have yet to adopt a summer/spring break policy. Just imagine how easy it is to avoid the real world for five years – or at least for one more spring.
Erin McKenzie is a junior journalism major and an assistant opinion editor for the Daily Forty-Niner.
