It's that time again, friends--the beginning of the semester. We're fresh from winter break, back at school with new notebooks, our books ordered, and the staple of any new semester--motivation. We're coming back from Christmas break with our academic arsenals fully stocked, and we're ready to get that 4.0 we've always dreamed of. From syllabus week to finals, these are the undeniable stages of motivation:

1. I'M GOING TO GET 100% ON EVERYTHING!!!!!!

Your K-Cups are perfectly aligned in order of caffeination, and you're prepared for however many sleepless nights it's going to take for you to be absolutely perfect on every assignment.

2. I can totally get away with doing this assignment before class instead of tonight.

You have two and half hours between your morning classes, and the assignment should only take thirty minutes right? What's the harm in watching another episode of your latest Netflix addiction tonight, when you can just do your homework during your break tomorrow? Everybody's happy.

3. What sick excuses have I already used this semester?

For some of us, this phase comes three weeks in, for others it comes three days in. The semester comes to the point where you decide you need more sleep, so of course, you "get sick." Many of us spend more time sifting through our sent folders, trying to determine which illnesses we've already lied about having this semester, being sure not to repeat any of them to unsuspecting professors.

4. OPERATION "SAVE MY SEMESTER" IS FULLY UNDERWAY.

Inevitably, at some point, you're going to have that "OH S#*T!" moment when you realize that your grades are not as high as they should be. But, not to worry, there's still time to save your semester. From this point forward, there will not be an assignment missed or a test lower than 96 percent.

5. Acceptance.

Because unfortunately, stage four lasts for about 12 minutes before you inevitably retreat into the recesses of your twin bed and cry about the "semester that got away."

But never fear, friends: I'll leave you with this little tidbit of my own experience: no matter how your motivation pans out over the course of the semester, you're going to do better than you thought you did.

Happy semesters, pals, and may the odds (and motivation) be ever in your favor.