Spring semester is undoubtedly a tough time for all college students. It's overall shorter than fall semester, and exam season tends to be here before we know it. For me, this was the first semester of my senior year here at Virginia Commonwealth University--and let me tell you, learning how to balance my senior capstone course, internships, graduation and the rest of my course load was tough.
But it wasn't all bad...between the numerous all-nighters I spent cramming for exams, all the Starbucks I drank and all the classes I barely managed to get to on time, I learned quite a few lessons and had a little bit of fun along the way. And I know I'm not the only one--if I know anything about my fellow peers here at VCU, I know that the spring semester has us all struggling. Here are a few moments I had during 2018 spring semester that any college student can relate to, as told by the gang of Parks and Recreation. Let's be real, they definitely tell the story best.
1. It feels like you just started classes yesterday, yet somehow it's final exam season again.
Seriously, it feels like it was just February yesterday. Can we turn back time and try this whole college thing one more time?
2. Trying not to die of second-hand embarrassment as your classmate bombs their final presentation.
You know that moment when you can just tell that someone started an assignment the night before, and you can practically see their grade on Blackboard plummet? But hey, no shade--we've all been there!
3. Having allergies take over as you walk through a sea of pollen on your way to class.
At this point, my professors probably assume that I am full-on sobbing as I walk to class every day. Yes, my entire face is red and swollen, and I can't breathe through my nose. IT'S JUST POLLEN.4. Thinking it's a genius idea to pull an all-nighter, then immediately regretting it.
Pulling an all-nighter to study for something last minute always seems like a good idea, until it's 4 a.m. and you're drowning in tears and cheap coffee. Why does anyone waste time studying beforehand when you can get it all done in one night, right? Wrong. So, so wrong.
5.Impatiently waiting for professors to input final grades on Blackboard.
Why does it seem like professors are so proactive in putting in grades at the beginning of the semester, but then during exam seasons it takes forever?Like, I'm trying to figure out if I can graduate or not. GIVE ME MY GRADES.6. Hitting up your parents for food money because you suck at budgeting and somehow used up all of your meal plan already.
You'd think after years of buying a meal plan, I would've figured out how to budget myself so I wouldn't run out of food before the end of the year, but nope. Sorry, Mom and Dad.7. Trying to hide the fact that you only got a half hour of sleep last night from your professors.
Sometimes after pulling an all-nighter or something close to it, there's no hiding the fact that all I want to do is sleep, and I'm frustrated that I can't. At this point, my professors probably take one look at my face after I get no sleep and assume I'm out for murder. Nope, just exhaustion.8. Getting halfway through a paper and realizing your thesis is essentially garbage.
...But continuing with it anyway because it's too late to turn back and it's due in four hours.9. Feeling like you bombed an assignment, but figuring out you actually aced it.
There's nothing better than spending days avoiding looking at your grades on Blackboard, only to figure out you aced an assignment. You think you a genius for a few days, then it's back to reality.10. Thinking you had more time to finish an assignment, but then realizing you missed the deadline.
True story: I walked into class once, thinking I had a week to finish my term paper. Then my professor said "Okay everyone, turn in your term papers!" I literally can't even describe the intensity of the panic attack I had at that moment. Luckily, I was still about to turn it in late--but that day was definitely a low point in my college career.11. Trying to hype yourself up to take an exam.
It's proven that your attitude can directly affect how you do on exams, so this semester I've been trying to hype myself up before going in to take a test or write a paper. Pizza is knowledge, after all.12. Not knowing what to say in your first job interview so you basically just agree with whatever the interviewer is saying.
Everyone remembers the awkwardness of your first job interview. I had mine not too long ago, and I pretty much forgot how to speak English and just agreed with whatever the person interviewing me was saying. I think if I counted up how many times I said "yes" or "I agree," it would break a world record.13. That last-ditch effort to get a summer body before the semester ends.
Going to the gym a grand total of three times will get me washboard abs, right?14. Having your phone blowing up from classmates' mass emails.
Okay, I know it's bad, but I instantly delete emails that start with "Hey everyone, I missed last class and..." Also, why do some people have full-on conversations over mass emails? That's what texting is for. Or snapchat. Or Twitter. Or literally anything else.15. Planning out your final projects, exams or papers and having a panic attack because there's so much to do.
Anyone else go into cardiac arrest when planning out the last few weeks of the semester, because there's so much to do and so little time to do it? No? Just me?16. But, it's okay, because you know it'll only be a few weeks until sweet, sweet freedom.
Spring semester can be tough, especially when it gives way to final exam season--but, the good news is that final exams mean there are only a few more weeks until summer. Then, you have a couple of months to forget about the crippling debt and workload of college, and relax! But don't worry: soon enough, it'll be time to do it all over again.