Finals Week is the worst period of time for college students. You’re up all night studying, only to wake up early the next morning to take a test you’re still worried about. You finish one test, only to prepare for another one. The struggle never seems to end, and summer break seems farther away than ever. How can you keep a positive state of mind in this stressful cycle?
My answer is: Thomas the Tank Engine.
Let me explain: I’m a huge child at heart, filling out coloring books on rainy days and always checking out the Disney Store when I’m at the outlets. Some call it immature; I call it being nostalgic. There’s a great amount of comfort in not acting your age.
That being said, let’s get back on track.
College, in and of itself, is not always easy. Sure, the parties are fun, but there’s that other thing too: homework. Everybody’s got their own way of doing their homework—some listen to quiet music, others go to the library, and others still like to complete their work with friends. I’ve tried all of these strategies, and they all work excellently.
But I’ve recently discovered a new and effective method that keeps you calm and motivates you while you’re working.
Lately I’ve been listening to vintage songs from my childhood to keep me in a positive mood. I go on YouTube and type in the Sesame Street theme song, and suddenly the sunny day sweeps away the clouds that my homework is making me see. Then it gets better: under “related videos”, I see the Arthur theme song. Ziggy Marley’s laid-back voice reminds me it’s a wonderful kind of day, if we learn to walk and play, and get along with each other.
The next video I came across was another memorable theme song from my childhood. This one was different from the others I had already listened to, in that there were no words. But that didn’t stop a flood of memories washing over me when I heard the opening chords and saw a tiny blue train making his way across the Island of Sodor.
Looking at it now, Thomas the Tank Engine was in a class all by itself. It was the first time I had seen Claymation in action (Clay figurines giving the illusion of motion), the episodes were no more than five minutes each, and the background music was so sweet.
Plus, there was that narrator with that super cool tone: Ringo Starr.
After the theme song ended, I saw a video entitled Thomas gets Bumped and Other Stories.
Well, I thought, I’ve already hit bottom. Might as well go deeper.
I clicked on the video and heard Ringo’s narrator: “Thomas is a tank engine who lives in a big station on the island of Sodor.”
With Ringo telling me all about Thomas’ big adventure of going to the river, I turned the volume low and set out to finish my book report for my History of Sports class. And let me tell you: That constant chugga-chugga rhythm from the trains seemed to hit a chord with me. I was able to finish my essay by the time the episode collection was over.
What could Thomas have done to make me complete so much work in such a short amount of time? Well, I think a number of factors led to this result. For one thing, the show was not as loud and obnoxious as most shows today—whether they’re aimed at children or not. The calming aura of the plot and background music wasn’t too distracting from what I had to do.
Also, I think the narration helped a lot. Ringo Starr is famous for his vocal qualities, and Thomas shows another side of him. A side that is wise and patient, telling stories with strong morals. These morals include: Teasing doesn’t make you better than anyone, pride is a foolish thing, and little engines can do big things.
It’s little life lessons like these that are just oh-so pleasing to hear during finals week. Whenever I feel down, I remind myself to keep going and push myself until I reach my destination, just like a tank engine.
So if you’re stressed out (And have no shame whatsoever), take a trip to the Island of Sodor and visit Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. And remember: Always do the best you can do, and someday you’ll be a really useful engine.
