The final weeks of semester: expectations vs reality
I know we are all trying to be positive* during the final weeks of semester. The holidays are close and exams are closer – it’s a tough gig.
So I’m just going to keep this real, and by real I mean revealing the Godforsaken ugly truth.
*low-key negative
Expectation: "I’ll so totally have my shit together!"
Reality: "…mmm no I don't."
Look, unless you’re keen beans, eager AF or just a God, you’re probably in the same boat as the rest of us. That boat just happens to be the sinking one that Jack Sparrow throws buckets of water out of, paying his respects to the fallen before just making the dock.
Ps get degrees my friends.
Expectation: "I still have time to catch up before exams hit."
Reality: "Not with all those final assessments…"
It’s true, you’ll either end up losing sleep or pushing back current work to try and catch up. It’s a hard place to be and usually results in some good ol’ procrastination.
Expectation: “We should form a study group!”
Reality: “I’m running a little late but I’ll be there soon!”
You’re either struggling to keep your plans for group study or if you do make it there on time, it’s 50% studying and 50% chatting (and that’s me being generous). If it’s not chatting, it’s group stalking someone on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Or, my personal favourite, postponing the group study sesh to another day, AKA never.
Expectation: "I’ll just do this during study vacay."
Reality: "I’ll just do everything during study vacay."
Oops.
Expectation: Short, beneficial study breaks
Reality: Marathon-watching all Shrek movies on Netflix
In my defence, it was on my recommended list and the sequel auto-played so who am I to stop the natural course of life?
Expectation: "I WILL go to the revision lectures!"
Reality: "I WILL go to the revision lecture…"
…you know, if I make enough time and finish that revision for that other subject. Or maybe I’ll just go for the second half because the first half is just going to be about discipline. Actually, maybe I’ll just watch it online…
Expectation: "I'm not going to cram this year."
Reality: Crams a little (a lot)
To be quite honest with you, it’s not an authentic uni experience unless you cram. There’s just something so deliciously hysterical about trying to fit twelve weeks of content into one week (or one night).
Expectation: Submitting final essay and being ecstatic AF
Reality: Ronan Keating’s ‘When you say feel nothing at all’
Because you still have all those readings to do, last minute quizzes that will give you that extra five or so per cent, the hours and hours of exam prep and then the actual exam.
Still despite being dramatic, you’re pretty proud you got that essay in on time… jokes! Two day extension holla at me.
Expectation: "I’m not going to stress eat."
Reality: "I don’t have any money to spend on food…"
…you cry as you mix cereal with Nutella and wonder if some leftover cheese will give it the punch you’re looking for.
And for when our marks return:
Expectation: "All this hard work is going to reflect in my WAM and GPA!"
Reality: Raises GPA by 0.01.
Classic.
In all seriousness though, if the above applies to you and it’s starting to stress you out, just know that you’re not the only one and it’s completely OK to be stressing. Talk to tutor, lecturer, parent or friends who are going through the exact same thing and let it all out.
Steffanie Tan
Steffanie is studying a Bachelor of Journalism at Monash University.