For an honours student, it may seem like there is no end in sight. From having no money in the bank to feeling left out because all your friends have graduated already, there’s no doubt that it’s a challenging and time demanding year.

If you know someone who is doing honours, give them a hug. They need it.

#1 Wondering Why You’re Even Doing This 

Sometimes you have those moments when you’re sitting at your coffee cup littered desk, staring bleary eyed at your laptop and finishing off your not-so-nutritious dinner of Doritos, that you wonder…WHY am I doing this?

You have to remind yourself that it’s only ONE more year of your life and then it’s freedom for good and you’ll have a kick ass resume. But why does it have to be so damn stressful?!

#2 Not Doing Anything But Your Dissertation

There may be a time when you look back on your uni life with all the stress worry and tears and you’ll realise it wasn’t so bad. But until then, you got to do that damn dissertation and it ain’t gonna write itself. But that doesn’t stop you from a little – okay a lot – of procrastinating. When it comes down to it, if you had a choice of staring at a wall of six hours straight or doing you dissertation, you’d probably choose the wall.

And it doesn’t help when your parents constantly ask, “so how’s your dissertation going?”. Like, do they think they’re helping somehow? You’re just placing me in a state of panic!

#3 Pretending You Have Your Shit Together When You Meet With Your Professor

Most students have to meet with their professor once a week to discuss how their studies are going and ask any questions they might have. This can be really awesome if you have your shit together but it’s terrifying if you don’t.

You can’t bullshit your way through the meeting either, because the professor can see through your lies. The best you can do is fake your death and move to another country to start again. Or you could work harder… I guess.

#4 Not Having A Social Life

People don’t understand that when you say, “I’m busy”, you mean your busy now, you’re busy tomorrow and you’re busy weeks from today. It means you have to book a time with me months in advance so I can pencil you in. Having a social life is a luxury not a necessity.

#5 Waiting For A Breakdown To Occur 

You know it’s going to happen. The question is WHEN.

#6 People Constantly Asking What Your Dissertation Is About 

OK I get it that people are genuinely interested in your field and they think it’s polite to ask you what you’re going to be doing all year. But honestly, the amount of times an honours student will get asked this from their fellow students, then teachers, parents and then friends, it gets tiresome and repetitive. So please don’t ask an honours student what their dissertation is about at a party or social event. This is probably the first time they’ve emerged from their den in a while and they just want to relax without explaining what their 50-page essay is about. And it’s not exactly party talk either.

#7 Netflix Is A Distant Memory 

Leisure time? What is that? You mean there are people out there who can watch Netflix without feeling a crushing amount of guilt? What a concept.

As an honours student, your idea of leisure time is now taking a shower or sleeping. It’s a cruel world.

Sophie Nicolas is studying a bachelor of art in creative writing and is an aspiring writer, dog enthusiast and thrift shop fashion icon.

(Lead image: Grownish/ABC)