The Drexel University quarter system is something I quite openly have a raging love/hate relationship with. While the 10-week quarter means that a class you hate will be done with before you know it, it also means that a whole lot of information is packed into an amount of time that is often arguably way too small. But another interesting thing that happens with this schedule is that each week almost has its own connotation. Week one is different from week five for obvious reasons, but even week six is much different than week seven.
Here’s what I came up with when I sat down with my calendar and good old Spotify -- weeks one through 10 (plus finals!) in the form of music.
Week 1: “Here I Go Again,” Whitesnake.
If it isn’t your first quarter at Drexel, you’ll definitely know the “welp, here we go again” feeling that hits you during week one.
Week 2: “Work From Home,” Fifth Harmony.
The workload starts to hint at the chaos that is to come later in the quarter during week two, but for the most part it’s manageable and you don’t have to spend hours upon hours in the library, in the lab, or in the studio.
Week 3: “Madness,” Muse.
Week three is usually where the unnerving sense of dread starts to creep into your life. “Am I crazy for putting myself through this again?” is something I’ve asked myself multiple times.
Week 4: “Work,” Rihanna.
While admittedly the concept of a “midterm” is pretty loose at Drexel, it’s around week four that things start to kick into full gear. Work, work, work, work, work is right.
Week 5: “Stressed Out,” Twenty One Pilots.
Hello to all-nighters, over-caffeination, and deadlines stacked upon more deadlines. Week five truly needs no explanation.
Week 6: “Déjà Vu,” Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Sometimes,week five and six are so similar that it can be hard to tell them apart. “Is it week X or week Y?” is a question that starts being heard more and more frequently, because we all definitely feel like we’ve been here before.
Week 7: “Look Alive,” Rae Sremmurd.
By now, we’ve made it through the majority of the term, but morale is probably really, really low. Finals are looming, and it’s time to just try and stay afloat. Be Rose, and stay on that floating door. You’ll make it.
Week 8: “Miserable At Best,” Mayday Parade.
Your teenage angst may or may not regain life around week eight. Everyone’s getting really burnt out, everyone is starting to hate everything, and all the dark eyeliner in the world probably couldn’t express the struggle everyone is feeling internally.
Week 9: “Tonight I Wanna Cry,” Keith Urban.
If you haven’t already had a mental breakdown, I’m impressed. However, I also wanna warn you that you’re probably not quite in the clear yet. More likely than not, tears will be shed. Welcome to Drexel.
Week 10: “Make Me Wanna Die,” The Pretty Reckless.
Week 10, depending on your major, can act as exam week for some, or project week for others. Regardless, you’re on the end of your rope and all you probably want to do is sleep for the next year.
Finals week: “Keep Holding On,” Avril Lavigne.
I will admit to truly listening to this song during finals week. At this point, we’ve all probably cracked, are laughing nervously, and might have a glint in our eyes that isn’t normal. Belting out a cheesy, uplifting ballad is exactly the thing we need to hold on until the ride is over.
Bonus track (for when you’ve finally finished the term): “Hello,” Adele.
It’s time to take a look back at your previous week one self. You’ve learned so much. You’ve grown as an individual. You’ll never be the same -- until next quarter.
Have any tracks that you think epitomize our week X phenomenon? Share with your thoughts, edits, or your own personal 10-week playlist!
