So it's April, and your campus is just shy of a month away from being on summer break. Whether you are graduating or headed into your sophomore year, you're itching for summer. You've probably found yourself daydreaming about the warm weather, late nights, and the free time that you will not be using to study.
As this semester comes to a close, we are all eager and excited to have nothing to worry about, school wise. If you are graduating, this time of the year is very bittersweet, very exciting, or very traumatizing, depending on your future plans. Either way, we're all ready to get off campus.
Going to class is hard, staying awake is a struggle, getting dressed can be a dilemma, and so the cramming season has officially begun. We're all thinking the same thing, feeling the same way, and wanting the same things. But with time, we'll be free!
1. The struggle to wake up is beyond real.
If you're not an early riser, waking up is probably always a struggle. But regardless, the buzzing of your alarm clock is easily the most agonizing and irritating sound (aside from your roommate's snoring). And if you're anything like me, you have an abundance of alarms set up on your phone, ready to go off within three minutes of each other.
2. Trying to pay attention to your professor in class like...![]()
So you made it to class, and then you look at the date. It's getting closer and closer to exam day, so you figure you should pay attention. Your professor, at this point is throwing out words and phrases you have no idea about, and this spirals into thoughts about why you're even in college, why you chose this major, and so on. In the end, you pull a Fat Amy and think, "mmm, better not."
3. Registration horror stories have become a reality.
You met with your adviser, got that boost of confidence that you might actually graduate, and now, it's time to set up next semester's schedule. The process to do so is unfair and stressful, and if you go to Montclair State, your campus decided to spring a whole new system on you ("It's All Here"). Now that you got all the scraps as a schedule, you realize all of your professors have either no rating or a solid D+ on ratemyprofessors.com.
4. Your parents begin questioning you about your career plans.
Another year has gone by, and you're about to be one step closer to adulthood. Your parents are hounding you about how many credits you have, internships, summer jobs, and future plans. But really, Mom and Dad, we don't need this right now.
5. Nice weather comes along but then the other three seasons hit town... all in one week.
If you're in New Jersey like me, you might be wondering when spring is coming, as the temperatures are still low. Some parts of the country are breaking out flats and wind breakers, but I'm still zipping up my boots and looping my scarf. Maybe we can just skip over spring and go from 0 degrees to 100 degrees real quick.
6. Finding out your final exam schedule is actually going to ruin your life.
If your life can't get any worse, your three-day schedule turns into five because your professors love to mess with you. So much for going home for break early, time to cram!
7. Starting assignments at 11:30 p.m. and being ready to submit at 11:59 p.m.
This is a college student's greatest milestone: procrastination at its finest. It's not the best strategy for completing assignments, but we have all had those nights when we're out with our friends at Applebee's for half-apps and resort to doing a homework assignment on our phones.
8. Filling your FAFSA, and then wondering why you're drowning yourself in financial debt.
Tuition + Housing + Books = Broke College Student
This is the struggle of every college student and recent grads because going to college is beyond an investment. FAFSA time reminds us of this commitment and how many zeros we would like added onto our bank account balances.
9. Putting more effort into extra credit assignments than anything else.
Playing catch-up with work at this point in the semester is both a chore and a challenge. So when an extra credit assignment comes around, it is glorifying, creating an adrenaline rush to get it done.
10. That feeling when everyday is Hump Day.
There comes a point in the semester when everything and anything is difficult, drawn out, and exhausting. Power naps have become a sport for you, laundry never gets done, and you have to pencil in when you're going to eat. The struggles are real, and it's safe to say that everyday has become Hump Day at this point.
Let the countdown begin! Summer is almost here, and then we are free to tan, eat, drink and make money. But for now, we are passengers of the struggle bus. We have to hang on tight, and get through exams. We can do this, one nap at a time.
