It's the most wonderful time of the year...unless you're in choir during finals. I love choir.

It is amazing and a welcome stress reliever, but the holidays are overwhelming as a college student, with finals and papers galore.

1. So many papers... so many exams...

Two of my professors graciously decided to give us final papers instead of final exams. So instead of having four papers and four exams, I have seven papers and two exams.

2. Multiple 3-4 hour rehearsals in one week.

While choir is awesome, having multiple rehearsals for longer than the usual class time is very, VERY overwhelming.

3. "I can't, I have choir" becomes more of an excuse than ever.

4. Being a 'non-Christmas music before December' person is impossible.

I am a firm believer that every holiday should have its time, so when people start listening to Christmas music after Halloween, I grumble. A lot. But it's very possible that I've been singing Christmas carols since before fall break.

5. Everyone else is getting excited for Christmas, and you are wishing it would be over already.

Again, I've been doing Christmas things since early October. I love the holiday season, but wow is it long.

6. 3 concerts in 2 days.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

7. "Hey, do you want to study on Saturday?" "I can't, I have choir."

"But I booked a study room for 1-7!" "My call is 12:30, I'm sorry."

8. Creative study schedules.

When am I not working, singing, or in class? I'm either in therapy or studying. Or sleeping, let's be honest.

9. Abandoning your work (except not really, because I live where I work.)

As an RA, I worked very hard to avoid scheduling duty the week of my choir concerts, choosing to do finals week duty instead. That should give you some incite to which week is more stressful for me.

10. "Do you want to go ice skating downtown?" "I can't, I have choir."

"But ice skating! You love ice skating!" "I know, thank you for the reminder."

11. Getting upset that you aren't singing certain carols when you should be concerned with your seven papers.

Yes. I am upset we aren't singing Joy to the World. Will that write my two virology papers? No, it will not.

(Also, Joey is fed up with my attitude.)

12. Overusing the "I can't, I have choir" joke.

It's a valid excuse!

I love the holiday season! Everyone is so joyful, and the world seems to be a much kinder place. But wow, do I get grumpy after singing Christmas carols non-stop for three months.

But I wouldn't have it any other way.