There is a fast-paced and traditional process that happens the week after Thanksgiving. Not only is there the obvious feel of Christmas in the air, but there is still the coming weeks before break to get through.
When we return to campus after Thanksgiving break, it’ll take us awhile to get back into the swing of things. That Sunday will be a lazy day for sure. We’ll probably unpack our things and maybe even clean our rooms a little bit just to feel as if we’ve accomplished something that day. We’ll end the night by convincing ourselves that going out to eat is the best decision because we haven’t been to the store since before break. Then, of course, we’ll watch Netflix which really needs no excuse or explanation given for why we do that.
The next morning will feel pretty normal, even after getting back from a break. We’ll get up, go to class, and sit through lectures, but probably won’t really be paying any attention. Our professors will be wrapping up the final touches on their lessons trying to prepare us for the coming dead days and finals. We’ll be daydreaming wondering where the time went and how that first semester went by so fast. We’ll then be scrambling to get those last minute assignments and extra credit work in on time in the hopes that these last ditch efforts (which we probably should have been doing all semester long) will make a difference.
Then comes the calm before the storm: dead days. They’ll make us feel at ease as if we have some actual time before our final grades teeter on the scale between that plus or minus. We might go to the library for a few hours. Possibly even get some solid studying in. In reality though, we’ll probably waste that time and not even realize it. We’ll grab breakfast with a friend, then think that we have time to see a movie real quick, and before we know it we’re on our way to Austin or Dallas for the day because how often do we get to take spontaneous road trips? We’re only in college once and these are the days of our lives.
Suddenly, it’s the morning before our first final and we are completely unprepared. Where do we go first? Starbucks. Get caffeinated and nothing is impossible. Now the real studying begins. Hours upon hours of flashcards and reviews and probably more coffee.
We wake up the morning of the final, whether that means in our bed or in the chair we fell asleep in at the library. We begin the best part of finals week — the pump up part. We listen to our favorite songs, read our favorite quotes, or watch our favorite videos (my personal favorite is “40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes”). We got our best pencils and our lucky pens. It’s going to be OK. We’re going to kick these final’s butts!
Eventually, we’re done. We can go home now. We don’t even really know how we feel about our finals because, confident or not, it’s Christmas break and that’s all that really matters at this point. All of a sudden, a thought dawns on us that darkens our whole day; we have completely forgotten to buy Christmas gifts for our families. Way to go.
Perhaps this cycle isn’t the same for everybody. Some people may actually be prepared and on top of their priorities. I can absolutely guarantee though that there will be plenty of us who know in advance that they will already be behind. Seems ironic and almost as if we may be able to change that if we know it’s going to happen. Highly unlikely though as long as friends, Netflix, and food exist. Better luck next year!
