This summer I got this brilliant idea that I would be productive to the max. Not only was I going to work 8-3 Monday through Friday, but I decided to be bold, daring, even courageous. I decided to take an online math course. Sure, it may not sound that bad if you've never had the experience of online classes (specifically math) mixed with the sweetness of summertime. But it is.... Awful. So this is my warning to all of you summer-class virgins, stay that way forever.
Signing Up
Getting the Syllabus
Oh... what's this? You begin to realize the absurd amount of work that meant to be done over a full semester is being shoved into four weeks time. You try to remain (falsely) confident in your abilities, and start to become slightly annoyed with your professor for expecting the impossible. But it's ok because you know you can do this!
Starting Your First Assignment
Reality begins to set in as start assignment one, and realize what you thought was going to take thirty minutes takes three hours. Not to mention you still have three more sections, two quizzes, and one chapter test to cover.
Realizing Teaching Yourself is Impossible
Three hours later, you're still on assignment one and it begins to hit you. Teaching yourself is hard. Like really hard, that's why people get paid to do it for a living. You come to face the fact you have no clue what you're doing and might be just a little screwed.
Calling In Back Up
You turn for help, and hope your friends that are also taking the class will have at least some sort of idea as to what to do... (but most likely they're just as confused as you).
Taking Your First Test
After eating, breathing, and sleeping math (or whatever subject it may be) for the past 48 hours straight you feel a sudden sense of relief and overcome with happiness.
Remembering the 3 Chapters, 2 Quizzes, and Test... Due Next Week
Your brief feeling of joy is quickly interrupted by feelings of panic, despair, and sadness as you say goodbye to your social life once again and dive right back into the books.
When Your Online Homework System Doesn't Save Your Answers
That's right. Your hours of hard work and dedication when you just wanted to quit are all thrown right down the drain because of a stupid computer. You hate technology and all things school related.
Being Forced to Give Up Your Social Life
You've gotten to a scary point where you eat, drink, and breathe all things school related. As much as you want to escape it...you cant. It's gotten to the point where you have dreams about your online class.
Remembering How Pretty it is Outside
Oh... that's right it's summer. You wouldn't know though since you're spending all of your time inside doing schoolwork on a computer. Every now and then it hits you how embarrassingly pale you are, or how nice it would be to lay out by the pool instead of sitting at a desk, but you smile through the pain.
Submitting Your Last Test
Realizing You Only Have a Week Until Classes Resume at School
That's right.... You've finally finished your torture and come to terms with the fact that summer is over (just like your online class). Oh well, you didn't get to do anything fun this summer or hang out with friends, but hey! You got those three credits in the bank- what more could a college kid want!
