Welcome To The Grown-Up World | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Welcome To The Grown-Up World

Accept the consequences of your actions, and don't fret over the prettiness of what could have been.

268
Welcome To The Grown-Up World
lifeasahuman.com

The final words from my favorite novel will forever be one of the most influential quotes I have ever read. "Isn't it pretty to think so?" Jake, from Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises," says after Brett Ashley reflects on how good things could have been. My high school English teacher made it a habit to say this quote whenever a student would say things to the effect of, "My paper would be so good if I just had one more day!" Without realizing it, the stress that this man put on this particular quote has followed me into college, and will probably stay with me long after.

Let's face it, college students do a lot of procrastinating. We get the job done, though. We may have to stay up until four in the morning writing a paper or studying for an exam the night before, but it gets done. We've become pros at procrastinating. I was the student in high school that would turn papers in late. I was the student who thought that one more day would have made a difference. I can't tell you how many times my junior and senior years of high school that my English teacher looked at me and said, "Isn't it pretty to think so?" And he was right. It's pretty to think that one more day would have made all the difference. But the truth is, I still would have turned my paper in late or not at all with that extra day.

It's pretty to think that one factor could change everything, and maybe it would have, but the point is that it's time to grow up and face the consequences. You can't look to your boss and say, "That report would be sitting on your desk if I had just one more day to work on it." I mean, you could say that, but you would get fired. That's not how the real world works. I can guarantee you that the excuses I used in high school for turning in a late paper would never be accepted by a college professor, and I would be failing a lot of courses if my high school English teacher hadn't taught me Hemingway's lesson, even though he would take my late papers for partial credit.

Anytime I'm considering just going to bed instead of staying up until the crack of dawn to crank out a paper that I forgot about, I hear his words playing in my head. Hemingway's words and my teacher's stress on them is what motivates me to get things done on time. I may procrastinate, but at least it's getting done. So pick up your grown-up pants and get to work, because excuses aren't acceptable in the real world.

A pretty exterior doesn't mean a pretty interior. Sure, it's fun to go out on a Friday night, but, when you receive a zero on a paper that was due on Friday at midnight, you won't think that going out to party was such a pretty idea. Life isn't about what could have been, it's about what is. Accept the consequences of your actions, and don't fret over the prettiness of what could have been.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

13816
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2722
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1657
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments