The month of April in all its glory can be wonderful. On one side the weather is starting to be a little warmer--emphasis on the word "little." It's currently 45 degrees outside as I'm writing this, but you know it's fine. We'll get there. Summer is on its way. But most of all, for a lot of universities, college students are taking their finals, turning in final papers, doing final group projects and presentations and then slamming the door on their institution as they say hello to the glorious months that have been the ultimate dreamland for adolescents for years: Summer Vacation. In April I might emphasize. Well, happy for you guys...
Not actually.
Then there are other college students--like myself--that go to a school that is on something called................... "The Quarter System" *cue dramatic horror music*
For those of you who are fortunate enough to not know what this is, it is when a college or university institution splits their academic year into four parts: fall, winter, spring, and summer. Summer quarter doesn't technically exist at my school anymore but that is beside the point. This doesn't sound too bad yet, I know--it's essentially trimesters, but just you wait little gremlins on the semester system, just you wait.
The quarter system is an abomination because we start taking classes in September and we get out for the summer in June. Still doesn't sound too bad? Yes, this is essentially high school. We should be used to this--it shouldn't be anything unusual for us, but that my friends, is where you are mistaken.
For most of the year it's really not that bad. We even got to start in September instead of August like every other college in the history of colleges, but really does it matter? It's already getting colder; summer businesses are closing back down for the winter months so there's nothing really to do anyway.
No, my friends. The month of April is the month that the quarter system shoves a dagger into our motivation and is the only thing that we can really think about; it's the reason that our already sad and tired minds become hopelessly exhausted.
At some point in April, every single college or university finishes their classes and starts summer vacation. In April.
APRIL.
While all of you lucky college kids are posting those overly sentimental and reminiscing statuses that say something along the lines of "omg I finished another year of college. go me," all of us at good ol' Kalamazoo College on the dang quarter system are just about to finish midterms.
You heard right, folks. We're just halfway through our last quarter, trimester, whatever you want to call it. I have a good month-ish left before I get to celebrate in the summer holiday glory that every single one of my Facebook friends and twitter followers get to experience in April.
As happy as I am for y'all that you get to go soak up some sun--even though it was 45 degrees today--make the most of it, children--I must return to my studies. Why? Because I have two midterms this week.
See you on the other side, friends. We'll be with you soon enough...
