For all pre-med students (and anyone who takes a physical science class), you become immediately familiar with labs. But the labs in college are nothing like the trivial, simple, low-stakes labs that you completed in elementary, middle, and high school. Nothing compares to the brutal, rigorous, complex labs that you will endure during your years of college (except maybe brain surgery itself).
1. I don't want to go.
We all think it. We all say it. It's an every week sentiment, not just a once in a while feeling that you get with your other lectures. Walking to lab is like walking to your prison sentence.
2. Four hours is a crazy long time.
Some surgeries are shorter. Let's be honest-why are these labs so long? No eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, or sitting...is that even legal?
3. I am going to be efficient and productive.
My lab partner and I will read over the procedure several times, divide up the work, and be out of here in no time. Ideally, I want to be out of here in three hours max. Okay, more realistically it will be in 4 hours from the start time.
4. Why can't we sit?
But really, I still don't understand how we can be expected to stand and think for so long. The length of the lab itself is brutal enough to endure, but the fact that you don't get to sit means for sure that the post-lab grade is going to suffer.
5. I should drop the class.
I have to do this next week? And the week after? I don't think I'll ever take a class with a lab component ever again. r?
6. Does anyone else look like they know what they are doing?
The lab partners across from us look confused too, right? Or are we the only ones still on Part 1 of the experiment?
7. I don't care how I do. I want to get out of here as quickly as possible.
Whatever grade we get at this point, it doesn't really matter. I just need to get out of here. Plus, they drop the lowest grade, don't they?
8. Does my lab partner understand what we're doing...because I don't.
We haven't started the post lab, or done the calculations. Which part do I get, and which part can my lab partner figure out? The clock is ticking and my feet hurt.
9. Are all of the other groups leaving? Where did everyone go?
Oh shoot. Why did it get so quiet? Are they leaving too? Man, I've got to get out of here. My goggles are fogging up and giving me a headache.
10. Wow, these goggle marks are hideous.
These are going to last for at least another 3 hours. Well, at least I get to leave...and do this again next week.
