Like most colleges and universities, the first week of classes (or at least the first day) is usually syllabus week. But some professors have made syllabus week just the first half of your very first class meeting and then jump right into everything. You could be taking five classes and three of them already want you to have completed a reading assignment before you even have the first class and meet the professor.
Coming back to campus after winter break means having to rush and buy your numerous text books and settling down before the first day of classes to actually complete the homework assigned before the official start of the semester. And of course since professors know nothing else, each of your three out of five classes that you already have homework in want you to read roughly 70 pages each.
Then all the reading makes you want to take more breaks. And with breaks comes the need to snack more and go get a coffee/tea. And of course once you've eaten, it's hard to go back to reading because you're so ready for sleep now. So you take a short nap, but then it turns out to be a three hour nap and you wake up feeling as though four years have passed. And before you can start reading again, you're hungry.
Once you've eaten (and possibly taken another nap) you read some more. Because you're not going to be THAT person who ignored the reading assignment and then was lost on the first day of classes. With your body still in winter break mode, you trudge through the readings, hoping all of this is worth it.
When the first day of class finally comes, one of two things usually happens. Either your professor does the usual and only reviews the syllabus before sending you and the class on your way a half hour to an hour early OR your professor jumps right into the content for the semester. And in come cases, those professors who jump straight into the material don't even acknowledge the pre-first-day-of-class homework reading assignment.
Regardless of the type of first class you have, the realization sinks in that the next 15 or so weeks will be nothing but reading after reading and exam after exam with a quiz or paper thrown in here and there. But through all the work you'll be anticipating spring break and probably already have a countdown for it, too. And once you've returned from spring break, you'll likely be preparing yourself for the summer (and for some, graduation first). Before you know it, you'll be relaxing at home with your dog or cat binge watching TV shows and napping all day. Just hang in there.
