It's that time of the year, folks. We're halfway through the semester. Chances are, you've had at least one wave of midterms, or you might even be in the middle of one right now. And if you're lucky like me, you've had at least one exam every week for the past 5 weeks - and I really wish that was an exaggeration. It's not.

Sidenote: I just checked my desktop calendar and it looks as though I have at least one exam scheduled every.single.week until finals. Yes, you read that right. A small piece of my heart shattered, and I lost a little bit more of my soul just now. If I could go back in time, I would un-see my calendar, because ignorance is bliss, right?

Your trek through the semester typically goes one of two ways:

1. You're cruising along nicely in a class, actually understanding the material for once, completing assignments on time, making good grades on exams. Otherwise known as: the ideal scenario that is SO UNFAMILIAR TO US ALL.

2. You're cruising along nicely in class, smiling through the tears, taking each day in stride, hoping to not get swallowed alive by your upcoming 3 exams, 2 term papers, semester-long research project, weekly lab reports, and daily in-class quizzes. Otherwise known as: all of us.

If you identify more with the first scenario... Props to you. I want to be you. And please tell me your secrets. Immediately. If you identify more with the second scenario... I'm so sorry. I feel your pain. We are all in this together.

But being halfway through the semester means you've learned (and hopefully retained) half the information for each of your courses this semester. Which means you (should be) half a semester smarter than you were just a mere two months ago. How cool is that?

Stay strong friends, we're halfway there.