Why is it called study week? After experiencing study week for myself, I'm baffled by the name. Freshmen year I was under the impression that study week was for studying ONLY. However, I learned it’s no different than any other week except that all the people who don’t study all year are huddled up in the library.
Pre-college
I thought that study week was what the media showed us. It was a week of unhealthy sleeping patterns, pajamas all day and getting food delivered to your dorm hall. I was prepared to make a schedule of naps and study breaks. I thought that I would stay up extremely late or go to bed and wake up really early. The library would be open 24/7 and there would be access to food 24/7.
Reality
The library is open for an extra three hours, until 2 a.m., but it still closes. Everywhere you can get food on campus is close by midnight, except the midnight breakfast which happens one day out of the entire semester. People live on fast food and energy drinks, at least I was right about that. The most upsetting part for me though was that classes resumed as normal.
During study week classes should be optional. I’ve only met one professor, so far, that thought the same way I do about study week. This professor said, “Study week was meant for studying. It was meant for students, so do what you wish with your time. I’ll be here at this time as I always am for our class and you’re welcome to come but if you do, I’m only here to help you. Your job is to bring questions, and mine is to answer them.” This is how I thought study week was supposed to be, and this is what I envisioned that whomever invented "study week" had in mind. What do I have to do during study week? I have to give two presentations, I have to go to work, which is on campus, make up hours lost due to fiesta and research for two other papers. I have to do all of this while going to class. How much time is there to study, eat or sleep? It's not nearly as much as we need.
We shouldn’t have to be worried about working during study week. Don’t get me wrong, I need money as much as the next broke college student. But. if I'm not successful in the classroom I won’t need money because I won’t have a school to attend. I’d fail out.
I know I’m not the only one who thinks this way, so speak up! Change doesn’t happen overnight but it does happen. Maybe we won't see it but it could change our children's education. Since education is essential, we need the right tools to succeed. Give us time.
