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The 5 Stages of Grief After Getting Through Your First Week of Classes

Telling the voice inside your head that if you can get all of this work done and you don't completely fold on me, we'll do something cool to reward us. We'll get ice cream, or see a movie, or get drunk, or.....yeah we're getting drunk.

Eric Krizizke

Aug 23, 2019

Illinois State University

The 5 Stages of Grief After Getting Through Your First Week of Classes

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If you're anything like me, and you're starting your first semester of the new school year, it can feel like a lot is happening at once. That's because it is. It can be so much that you even begin the stages of grief like I did just this week when I got all of my class syllabi. More or less, here's how it all went down.

Denial

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It's not so bad. I've done more than this before. It's not as bad as it was last semester. At least, it's not as bad as it looks. Okay, it does look pretty bad, but that's only because everything I have to do is sitting here in front of me. Once I actually start doing it and I gradually start checking things off my list, it won't be as bad as I thought....right?

Anger

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What the hell is this?!? Why would they give me so much to do?! Don't they know how busy I already am??!! This is bullcrap! I hate this! Screw my professors and screw anyone who's ever loved them!! And why the hell did I buy $300 dollars worth of textbooks?! I'm only using each one for like a week! This whole thing is a scam! Screw college and my student loans and the education system as a whole! We have nothing to break but our chains!!!

Bartering

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Look, I'll level with the voice inside my head. If I can get all of this done and you don't completely fold on me, we'll do something cool to reward us. We'll get ice cream, or see a movie, or get drunk, or.....yeah we're getting drunk. Just remember to turn in that important paper and all the Hennessy in the store will be yours.

Depression

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This is it. My life is over. There's no way I can pass all of these classes. I might as well drop out now. With no degree I'll be forced to work minimum wage and live in a studio apartment by myself watching Bojack Horseman forever....except it will be worse than when I do it now. Wait, no, it'll be worse. I'll have to join the circus and be a part of the freak show, but I'm not freaky. I'm just kind of gross so they'll kick me out of there too. I'll be poor and homeless and alone and I want Taco Bell.

Acceptance

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Wow, that Taco Bell really cleared my head. Maybe I overreacted a little bit. Look, this semester is probably gonna suck sometimes, and there will be times that I feel like breaking down or that I'm in over my head, but I can do this. I have the power, the knowledge, and the will to get all of this done. I've felt like this before, I've succeeded before, and I can succeed again.

If I was able to get through it, then so can you. Go show this semester who's boss, and get some Taco Bell too that stuff works wonders.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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The 5 Stages of Grief After Getting Through Your First Week of Classes

Telling the voice inside your head that if you can get all of this work done and you don't completely fold on me, we'll do something cool to reward us. We'll get ice cream, or see a movie, or get drunk, or.....yeah we're getting drunk.

In This Article:

Denial

Anger

Bartering

Depression

Acceptance

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This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

Run Around Clanging Pots and Pans in Everyone's Face

Eat the Last Few Pigs in a Blanket

Pop Twelve White Grapes

Burn Something

Smash Things Against a Wall

Spontaneously Begin an Irish Jig

Call Your Mother

Throw a Coffee Table Out a Window

Sing "Auld Lang Syne" at the Top of Your Lungs

Do Some Squats

Swan Dive into a Nearly Freezing Body of Water

Take a Shot

Time to be merry and bright.

"First Noel" by Leslie Odom, Jr

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Kelly Clarkson

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home" by Michael Buble

"Last Christmas" by Taylor Swift

"The Christmas Song" by Josh Groban

"White Christmas" by Idina Menzel

"O Holy Night" by David Archuleta

"Believe" by Josh Groban

"Les cloches du hameau" by Celine Dion

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

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