Everyone knows that syllabus week is supposed to be the easiest week of the semester. It's a time to catch up with friends and enjoy class before the hard work really starts. Turns out, syllabus week isn't always everything you've dreamed of. Sometimes professors are scary, classes seem hard and maybe you even get lost on your way to class. We all try and be optimistic at the start of every semester, but in reality you're diving into the unknown the first week, and that's pretty stressful. Time to point out these misconceptions about syllabus week and why it's already stressing me out.

1. Turns out it's possible to get homework on the first day.

The first day of class is all fun and games until your professor decides to give you an assignment on the first day. If you're really lucky, you'll have the honor of having more than one assignment to complete by next class. I thought I was supposed to just come to class and go over the syllabus, I thought that's what "syllabus week" implies? Guess not.

2. When the professor keeps you for the entire class time on the first day.

This is especially painful when classes are over an hour. It's pretty difficult to go from having to attend no classes, to having to attend four in one day. If only there were some kind of transition period. Unfortunately, that's not the case and professors waste no time diving into class and teaching the start of a new lesson.

3. When your professor thinks icebreakers are a good idea.

I thought we left these back in primary school when kids actually enjoyed them and thought they were fun. Whoever thought that college students would enjoy having to "share an interesting fact about themselves" to a class of 20 plus strangers was wrong. The only thing icebreakers do is add to everyone's anxiety and and force them to realize that they aren't that interesting.

4. When you can already tell on the first day your professor is crazy.

First impressions of a professor are important. Sometimes professors seem scary in the beginning and turn out to be quite helpful towards the end of the semester. Sometimes professors seem nice in the beginning and then their true temperament starts to show as the semester goes on. Then there are the professors who you can tell, from the very first day of class, are slightly on the eccentric side, to put it nicely. It's OK, though, because you know they are guaranteed to make your semester interesting to say the least.

5. When the professor throws out the "participation is graded" line.

It's hard to sit towards the back of the classroom and get through the semester by opening your mouth as little as possible when the professor tells you on the first day that participation is part of your grade. This might be debatable for some, but I thought as long as I pay attention and do well enough in the class that I deserve a good grade. When did having to speak up in class and risking sounding like a babbling idiot become such a necessity?

6. When you're in a class with people you don't know.

The further you go along in school, the more likely you are to have people in your class that you know. Sometimes, however, there is a class where you know few people, or nobody at all. This is especially hard when the professor goes over the syllabus and mentions there will be group work in the class. It's OK though, it's only for a few times a week, you can handle it. Hopefully.

7. When your professor gives you some kind of quiz, even though they swear it's not graded.

I understand that professors want to know how much knowledge you retained from previous courses, but do they have to make these so hard? They will try and ease your pain by stating that it won't be graded. As if that makes any difference, I know you are still going to look at it and judge me when I get all of these questions wrong.

8. When you are forced to exchange phone numbers with a stranger.

The professors who usually force you to do this are the same ones who force you into the icebreakers. They want you to have a "buddy" in case you miss work or are going to be late to class. Odds are, you'll save this person in your contacts as "Susie Q (insert class name here)" and never use the phone number the entire semester. If you're lucky, you'll sit next to your friend, pretend you don't know them and have them give you their number which you already have.

As time goes on, I am realizing more and more that syllabus week is nothing but a myth. I mean sure it's probably the easiest week of the semester but in many ways it's also one of the most stressful. I was under the impression that on the first day of classes professors read the syllabus, go over a few topics of the upcoming course, and let you go. Turns out that professors get more and more eager to start class off right away as the years go on. If you're overwhelmed the first week though fear not, because it's time you realize that it will only get harder from here. God speed.