The black hole.<br/>A time warp.A time warp.<br/>A wasteland.A wasteland.<br/>All of those descriptions can be applied to the period of the semester we now find ourselves in.All of those descriptions can be applied to the period of the semester we now find ourselves in.
A time warp.
A wasteland.
All of those descriptions can be applied to the period of the semester we now find ourselves in.

From fall break to Thanksgiving, school becomes more difficult, life becomes more difficult.

For the last two years, I have observed during this time people seem tenser. They snap at everyone a little quicker.

Is it because this is when the big projects get handed out?

All those papers and creations that seemed so far off in August now loom on our immediate horizon beckoning, and we are unable to resist their call. 

People now exhibit irrational attitudes.

For us jolly folks, we must be aware that sometimes we will be the targets of their anger but very rarely its source.

Many people who are afflicted by Irritable Stress-Induced Syndrome displace the anger they feel toward classes and such onto their friends and family.

I urge you all to take it in stride. 

Do not let them get you down, but be aware that in releasing this hostility, they will often feel better themselves.

How does a regular person combat ISIS? It’s simple really: Take time to relax.

In my opinion (and keep in mind I’m a communication major, not pre-med) if a body were to take about 20 minutes every day to just relax and hang out, it would help to ease life’s tension.

Yes, I jacked this idea from a “Scrubs” episode, so what?

You see, too often in this world we forget about ourselves and don’t live in the moment.

I’m not telling you to stop and smell the roses, because I don’t think roses smell all that nice.

However, do take some time for yourself, put down the LA 401 outline or the senior seminar paper and just veg out to an episode of “The Office” or something.

Laugh a little before you go back to grinding your nose. I realize I just mutated a figure of speech for my own uses and it didn’t really work, but I’m OK with it.

For those of you who are struggling with classes and wondering “What’s the point?”, I’ve got something for you, too.

The point is you. These projects and papers usually are for the professors so they have some way of assessing you.

Sure, you may be in some gen ed class that doesn’t apply or you might be switching your major, but the same idea is true.

Do it for personal pride. <br/>Finish the race.Finish the race.
Finish the race.

Will it be worth it? Meh, maybe not, but you’ll always have the knowledge that you can do something you don’t like and do it well.

Can any one of you tell me that at no time in the real world an employee doesn’t get assigned something he or she doesn’t like? Can you drop the class then? No, you have to do it or get fired. 

In the end, college is only a few years of your life.

You can do what you want. I’ll do what I want, but here’s what I’ll say to you: I’m going to finish those papers and projects, not because I necessarily want to, but because my pride dictates that I do.

I want to look back and be able to say that I kept going and did my best, even when it wasn’t easy. Will you be able to say that?

Quick note, if the real world begins after college, what do we live in now? Narnia? I hope it’s Middle-Earth.