It’s that time of year again. It seems like the semester started just yesterday and it’s already time for midterms. If you’ve been studying since the first day of classes and feel like you’re ready to take the big test, you’re a rock star! However, I’d be willing to bet that most students haven’t given midterms a second thought until now.
If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably experienced one or all of these steps as midterms approached.
Determination
Ah syllabus week, the easiest days of the semester when you come to class just to mindlessly sit in class and listen to the professor drone on about what to expect during the year.
As they’re scrolling through the syllabus that will never be revisited by anyone in the class ever again, they mention that the midterm will be 40 percent of your grade. Seems easy enough right? You decide that this year will be different from previous years and you’ll put in lots of effort to study weeks before the exam to get an A+.
Not Caring.
As the weeks go by, you’re going through life happy and carefree. The midterm is the last thing on your mind. You’ll study for it eventually, but you’ve got a really long time before you have to start worrying about that.
Denial
You come to class one day and the first thing the teacher says is, “Remember, your midterm is next week.”
What?!?!
All kinds of panic and anxiety start to build up inside of you. You thought you had four more weeks until you even had to start thinking about the midterm. The realization comes that you don’t remember a single thing that the class covered since the year started and you try to convince yourself that you have more time than you think.
Procrastination
As the midterm gets closer you think about studying but try to find ways to convince yourself that you don’t have to study at all. One more video game, one more episode of your favorite show, or one more hour on social media won’t hurt. But one turns into two and two turns into 10 and soon you’ve forgotten all about studying.
Cramming
The day before the midterm has arrived. You haven’t studied all weekend. You convinced yourself that you would know all of the information by now and studying would be a breeze but suddenly the pages of notes seem endless. Time to stock up on coffee, pizza, and five hour energy because you’re in for a long night.
The Test
The day of the test finally rolls around. You’re a mess of nerves, anxiety, and sleep deprivation. You come into class desperately trying to look over your notes one more time. You’re terrified that as soon as the professor puts the test in front of you, you’ll forget everything.
Relief
The test is finally over. It wasn’t so bad. You feel like you did a good job…or if not at least got a passing grade. It feels like the weight of the world is off your shoulders and you can relax.
At least until finals.
