With school swiftly approaching again, we're all getting pumped to see our friends, decorate our rooms, and make new memories. The first couple of weeks everyone is bright-eyed and eager to learn, but by the end of the first half, everyone is wearing sweatpants and pretending like they didn't just wear the same outfit to classes yesterday. Any college student will understand the five stages of time during a semester.

1. The "Sunshine" Period.

I also like to refer to this as the "naive" stage. Everyone is too hyped on the excitement of everything starting up again that they burn out the majority of their energy within the first two weeks. Students show up to class brightly polished, coffee in hand with a smile so big you wonder if it will get stuck on their joyful face. Some of us students envy those rays of sunshine that can still get that natural high.

2. The "Midterm Freakout" Period.

For continuing students, this time of the semester should be no sweat because we've been through this time and time again. Yet for some reason, the entire campus turns into a jittery bundle of nerves. For some they think that the midterm is make or break it and push themselves to the limit just to make sure they get a high grade. This is when we start seeing some students resort back to the "bum" look. This is only a small battle in the great war of keeping your grades up during the semester.

3. The "Dead" Period.

By this time in the semester we have just gotten back from Thanksgiving break and have our final exams and projects to look forward to. Goodie, just what I want to think about after shoving my face with as much food as possible three days in a row. This is where students are yawning for about 85% of their lecture if they are not already snoozing. There are some students, who for some magical reason unknown to the rest of us, manage to still keep that energy they had from the first week of school. I'm usually eyeballing them up to see what their secret is.

4. The "Finals Hell Week" Period.

Ah the worst part of the semester. The campus is full of zombies running on energy drinks and espresso shots, the library becomes a campground for students trying to piece together everything in their brains. Students are taking naps wherever they can, trying to make up for the week long all-nighters they will be pulling to study. The only good news is that by surviving finals you get to go home for winter break.....and then come back for spring and do this all over again.