The last day of classes is around the corner, but until then, students are scurrying around campus trying to accomplish the impossible.
After three months of procrastination, the workload has finally landed with less than 48 hours to spare. The urgency to complete everything does not seem to reveal itself until too late.
As the syllabi begin to resurface and students review assignments and grading systems, the upcoming doom is unavoidable. The weight of every missed class and every late assignment hovers over students’ shoulders like a dark cloud.
Brett Lewis, junior in material science, said no amount of regret can make up for the gaping hole of procrastination.
“At the end of the year I always feel like, ‘Man, I am so irresponsible, why didn’t I work enough earlier?’” Lewis said. “I am now realizing that I just have a lot of work to do. Sometimes you are just busy and can’t do anything about it.”
While summer is the promised prize, the path there is far from pain-free. A cost/benefit analysis comes into play as students try to determine the value of their time as compared to the benefit of good grades.
Marissa Landis, a junior in the College Scholar’s Program, said that while there does seem to be a lot of work during this season, staying focused is more of an issue than the lack of time. The motivation to keep chugging along begins to fail as the temperature rises and the week progresses.
“Personally, it’s hard to stay motivated,” Landis said. “I’m tired at the end of the semester, and finishing well with the same level of work I hold myself to during the semester requires a lot of coffee and a ‘just get it done’ mentality.”
Unfortunately for some, even a “get it done” mentality won’t always end with the desired effect. For others, this week is all that gets between them and graduation.
Jenny Yuhasz, a senior in hotel, restaurant and tourism management, said she isn’t too concerned about the upcoming days and weeks. With very little required to complete her degree, Yuhasz is confident as the week pans out.
“I should probably be stressing out about getting all my work done before graduation,” Yuhasz said. “But with only one serious class, I can count all the things I have to do with one hand.”
While Yuhasz is coasting her way out of college, others are trying stay motivated as they plan their upcoming year. With this in mind, Yuhasz encourages students to plan ahead.
“Plan your courses wisely so senior year can be fun and not stressful,” Yuhasz said.
