As we dive head first into finals week it’s hard not do some personal reflecting on this past semester. The previous eighteen weeks have been a time of varying strides both towards and away from academic success. Amongst the fond memories, I can’t help but remind myself of a few regrets I have about the way I handled my least favorite course work. Every semester there is at least one class that enables the most ill advised college behavior. Although I accept full responsibility for the grade on my transcript, it is comforting to make a few excuses. My least favorite class has taught me:
1. Five different alarms still might not be enough.
6:30…6:45…7:00…7:15…7:20…Screw it, I’m not going.
2. Hot seat polls are still accessible from the comfort of your pillow.
Many times this semester I have opened my eyes just enough to refresh until a quiz question pops up. Technically, I'm still participating in class, right?
3. PowerPoint slides are much vaguer than I previously thought.
A class lecture is a lot like a 200,000 piece puzzle. The powerpoint slides are the edge pieces, pretty easy to put together. The stuff on the exams, yeah, those are the sky pieces.
4. Passion is essential to learning.
Walking out of class and feeling totally uninspired makes me thank the higher powers I don’t have similar feelings about my major specific courses. If you do, consider changing your major, you might be missing out on how awesome learning can actually be
5. Never schedule the subject you hate at 7:30.
As if Purdue having 7:30 class options wasn’t already a cruel and unusual punishment.
6. Fate must decide how well I do on this final exam.
No amount of studying can undo the lack of motivation and understanding for this class.
7. Think long and hard before submitting those CRNs.
Never underestimate your lukewarm feelings about a class. If you are certain it won’t challenge you, or you won’t enjoy it, reconsider.
