Opinion
Surviving challenge of college-level coursework
April 11, 2014
I am so busy these days! I have at least a couple papers a week and large tests popping up like crazy. Every class seems to have an assignment due at once, my clubs have several important events and work has me scheduled a lot. I’m so stressed.
Sound familiar?
I’m sure most students have heard or felt this themselves at some point in their college career. I know I frequently have, and based on the exhausted expressions adorning my friends’ faces these days, I know they have too. It seems like everyone is getting run into the ground. Even the professors and administrators probably feel the pressure as the semester crosses the half-way point and keeps on sliding. Life is just full of stuff; none of us really can find time to breathe. We just look forward to when the next project is done and groan when more is added to our workload. Sometimes it feels like no matter how organized you are, nothing will stop the inevitable crush.
If you have no idea what I am talking about, here are some reasons why this could be possible: one, you are a freshmen taking a lot of general education courses; two, you are lucky; three, you are super organized; four, you are taking the minimum amount of classes possible because you do not want to deal with this workload stress. Frankly, if you have managed any one of these, good for you. You do not really want to be dealing with what I am talking about. There could be more than the four reasons I mentioned; your homework hump month, as I have recently decided to call it, could simply be less stressful than I have described. But I am sure everyone has had those times where they have three tests in a week or a series of consecutive projects. You look at your schedule and you just have no idea how you’re going to survive this.
Well, as an almost senior and a person who likes to throw a lot on her plate, literally and figuratively, I have a few tips of the surviving trade for you.
The first thing to remember for the rules on surviving and succeeding at the homework hump is to take care of yourself. This means physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally; all of those areas PE 108 tried to make us remember. No matter how little time you think you have, if you want to survive this homework hump for any extended amount of time, you need to take care of yourself. I mean getting around eight hours of sleep, eating some vegetables, taking the stairs and reading a joke book. You need to be at your best. You may not have time for a full-fledged workout or sleep marathon, but make sure that you are at least attempting to be healthy. Get your heart racing, emotions calm and stomach full. This will help you focus on what you need to get done. Also, showers are a plus.
Something else to remember when you prepare for the onslaught of life is to have fun. This may seem counterintuitive as fun is something you do when you do not have homework and you need to concentrate on surviving the pile of homework that looks like it will crush you. However, having fun is important. Plus, it is not really living if you do not smile now and again.
So, my fellow Falcons, when you see the incoming homework hump day, week or even month, buckle up. You are going to have a bumpy, stressful ride. But hey, with some organization and luck, you will survive and be able to remember it with a somewhat forced smile. Look towards the future, put your hands on the keyboard and get ready to climb. You can do it!
Rachel Molitor is a student at UW-River Falls.