4/05/2015

The fabulous life of a college student (not)

My incredible, fabulous, busy and tight college schedule does not give me the time I need and want to write more for my blog. This upsets me and probably you, my loyal and dear readers and I apologize for this. With this post I want to explain why this is the case. Well, I am going to try.

First, I need to tell you that college is not as easy as it looks to some people. They think that going to college is an easy way of doing nothing and chilling around all day. And, how could I forget, going to parties at night, seven days a week. This could be a great life if you want to finish your degree in about a hundred years. Or to finish it at all. There are students who do not take their classes and university careers serious. Most of the time, they start studying at the end of semester. One of my professors once called them seasonal laborers, due to them only showing up at the end of the semester.

Anyway, let me give you a little insight look on a college life of a student who takes this whole experience seriously and who wants to graduate on time. Almost one time. This is my college life. A few weeks ago, I finished all of my study work, term papers and exams for the last semester. Classes already ended in the middle of February. That did not imply that I was done with all of my work. It took me several weeks to complete it. Two weeks ago, I handed in my last term paper. I was looking forward to a few stress free and college free weeks before my next semester will start. Boy, was I wrong. I got a few days until I received a great email from one of my professors, for whose class I registered for next semester, with tons of reading material. Imaging my not so happy face. I was very close throwing my laptop on my wall. Anyway, as you see, I did not get much free time at all. Only a small amount of it. Of course, my daily schedule slowed down a bit during the break but it is still stressful and full of work. During the semester my daily schedule is even tighter. Let me give you an example of that. Next semester, I registered for six classes on two different days. It sounds great to go to school for only two days a week and the rest of the time you are able to spend otherwise. Trust me, people, that is a huge illusion. Six classes every week is actually a ton of work. I have so much reading to do. There are always small assignments to hand in. And they have to be handed in on time. Furthermore, I already have to start doing research for term papers. Yes, I said papers. There are several. So, at school days, I get up early in the morning, go to classes, come home, crap a bite to eat, and head straight back to my desk to do school work. Now, you probably think, that this does not sound so bad. She still has several days off every week. I have to disappoint you there. I also have to work to earn a little bit of a living. I have to pay the bills somehow. Btw. I actually enjoy going to work. I like it there a lot. So, this is not too bad. Recapitulating, during the semester my week consists out of attending classes, working and studying 24/7. During breaks, my week consists out of writing term papers, and studying. If I am lucky, I get a few days off of this whole crazy life. The next point I want to discuss is the great and amazing party life everyone thinks a student has. Some students do have that and there is a different party somewhere every night. And feel free to attend that. Nevertheless, partying the whole time does not go well with graduating on time or at all. Oh gosh, I sound like a total strict and never-having-any-fun kind of person and this is so not the case. I love a good party, a night out with friends, a movie night with friends, having dinner out or going to a bar. But you do not have to spend every single night out until very early in the morning. After my long days, I am literally exhausted. Maybe it is me and other students are able to function on little sleep but I cannot. And I do believe that is not healthy for your body and your studies.


I just realized that I vented more than I initially wanted too. I do not want to complain. It was my choice to go to college and get a good degree. And I do not regret anything. I love my field of studies. But it is hard and once in a while I get a nervous breakdown because I am completely stressed out and frustrated of the mountains of work I have to do and the little I am able to finish in a day. And because a lot of people have all those prejudices of how much time a college student has. That is also one reason why I wanted to write this post. Another one is to make people understand that a college life is not that glamorous as it is shown in society sometimes. Some students make it that easy, but this is their choice. The majority of students work hard and do not have that fabulous life full of free time and only a little bit of school. Additionally, a lot of students have to work in order to earn some extra money. Going to college is a lot of work with tons of hours of studying and working. And I wanted to show the real deal. At least my deal.