At most colleges, one can observe a strange phenomenon that is so infamous that some have even given it a formal name: Apriling. The term describes the inevitable chaos that is the month of April, the last full month of the semester before finals and the last month of the school year in general. In upstate New York, April is a time where one day could bring a blizzard, the next could bring showers and the next could bring May flowers but every day at Colgate is guaranteed to bring an extra assignment or two and more than a handful of events - all happening at the same time.
There are many theories as to why this phenomenon occurs:
1. We realize that time is running out and we have yet to apply for funding for our events.
2. Funding boards have money that will "disappear" at the end of the semester and are begging to give away.
3. We get spring fever and forget we actually do still have classes.
4. We actually can't do anything outside for the other 95% of the year so we have to take advantage of the few days of spring that we have.
5. We have trouble convincing people to come up to the tundra that is Hamilton, NY at any other time.
6. Two prime examples of Apriling, Spring Party Weekend and Dance Fest must happen during the spring, as do April Visit Days where thousands of prospective students and their families invade campus.
7. Seniors realize that this is their last hurrah at our wonderful institution of higher learning and want to take advantage of every opportunity [to party].
Though the exact cause of this phenomenon and why we continue to feed into it every year is unclear, the effects are not:
1. What is homework? Between classes, assignments, essays, exams, lectures, sports, clubs, special guests and events there is barely any time for sleep, which brings me to another effect:
2. Everyone is hopped up on even more caffeine (or other various methods of staying alert) than usual.
3. Everyone is more frantic and stressed than usual.
4. Traffic at the Counseling Center and the Wellness and Health Centers increases exponentially.
5. Everyone becomes an expert at prioritizing, but as a consequence:
6. No one can possibly go to all of the events that are interesting to them.
7. The end of the semester comes in a blur and before we know it we are trying to pack up our rooms in the required 24 hours after our last exam wondering, "where did the time go?" but thanking the universe that it's all over now.
So, friends, classmates, as we approach the second half of April, try to prioritize, practice self-love and care, and remember that we're almost done! Less than three weeks to go, may the odds be ever in your favor!
