The beginning of each semester is the week that doesn't exist. It's called Syllabus Week. Syllabus Week is stupid. Period. Professors read through the syllabus, and then desperately attempt to teach a class to tired students who don't really have a reason to be so tired and yet, they are. Even though Syllabus Week has the reputation of being an easy week, it's actually fairly stressful. The guidelines and expectations for the next three months are laid out, all at the same time. All of the homework, the projects, the extra credit, and the grading systems are there. For some people, this is helpful. It's an organized list with everything you need to know for the class, but for others, it's a piece of paper that contains all nine levels of hell. It's a stress-inducing piece of paper that shows all the ways you can fail.
Yet, with all of this stress, people party every night during Syllabus Week. I'm serious. I have seen more drunk people during syllabus week than during the entire first semester. The night before a 9 a.m. class, I saw people going out and was so confused. You still have to attend class, because using your unexcused absences during a week that, while stressful, has very little work attached to it, is stupid. Why the heck are you going out when you know damn well that you’ll be hung-over the next day? Just go to bed. I’m serious. It’s so much better.
It’s really only Syllabus Week for the first three days or so. (Sometimes class is canceled for seemingly no reason and the professor tries to fit two classes into one and it’s stressful.) Syllabus Week isn't real because you still have to show up to class even though most of the time you’re doing basic introductions like “Hi, my name is Rebecca, I’m a freshman, and my fun fact is that I can wiggle my ears.” And then you wiggle your ears and everyone oohs and aahs and it’s stupid. Syllabus Week isn’t real, end of discussion.
But Syllabus Week can be hard, too. You just got back from break and desperately miss your family and pets. I'm still a freshman, so it was especially difficult for me when I get back to school after a long break. All week, I've missed my parents so much. My mom was out of the country so I couldn't even call her. (She was purposely out of the country for the Inauguration and I'm low key mad). So, to sum it up, Syllabus Week is stressful, sad, and all around stupid.
Fin.
