College students look forward to this week and appreciate the fact that they get to indulge in it twice a year. Prior to my senior year of college, syllabus week was full of late nights, classes that would only keep you for about 20 minutes, binge drinking, and an overwhelming amount of unproductivity. However, this year was something different; something I should have seen coming.
If you’re a college senior expecting to graduate in May you belong in one of two categories: Senior on Vacation or Senior in Rehab. A SoV is barely a full time student, coasting through their senior year spending more time at the bars or napping than they are in class or studying. They committed to a major early enough in college so they wouldn’t be killing themselves senior year. Good for them. The SiR is a little less frolicking in the Field of Late Night Shenanigans and a little more drowning in the Sea of Studying. The SiR feels an overwhelming pressure from their parents to graduate in four years. This senior took two to three years to “find themselves” via different majors. Or they’ve just been coasting for three years and realized they now have one year left to cram in about 35 to 40 hours. Possibly, the SiR’s situation could be blamed on both excuses.
Unfortunately, I am a Senior in Rehab. I took my time finding the perfect field of study and eventually I freaked out and decided if I was to finish in the prescribed four years, I’d have to stick to one major. So here I am on the wake of my fall semester syllabus week of senior year and all I can think is, “Thank God that’s over, I sure hope spring semester’s isn’t that bad.” Here’s a recap of what a SiR might experience during their syllabus week.
Pre-Syllabus Week
They were entranced by the idea of seniorhood and soaking up the last bits of college. They spent their days overdosing on vitamin D and dehydrating with alcoholic beverages. At night you could find them at the bars or house parties. The week before reality slaps them in the face these seniors are reckless and carefree. They took someone home, just because they could. They are impervious to hangovers or sleep deprivation, because seniors are gods among college students.
Syllabus Week Eve
They were readying themselves for the upcoming week. Their preparation doesn’t involve school supplies or reading ahead. Instead they stocked up on alcohol, memorized weekly bar specials, and found that semester’s person who would always be DTF when they didn’t want to go home alone. SiRs feel equipped for the upcoming year and have not a worry in the world.
Monday
SiRs made it to class with only a notebook from the previous semester and a pen. They were slightly surprised when professors wanted to delve right into material. Being a senior; they didn’t worry too much. That night they invited all their close friends over to pre-game the bars. They barely noticed they were the only one getting belligerent and didn’t understand why everyone else wasn’t drinking their weight in alcohol. They may or may not have made it to the bars that night.
Tuesday/Wednesday
The SiR wakes up groggy with several unexplainable bruises. They’re not hung over; remember seniors don’t get hangovers. They are somewhat more prepared for class. The beginning of the week is split between the pool, bookstore, and campus. When they get home they are ready to continue raging. Disappointed that none of their friends want to party, they end up drinking a few beers while watching TV with their roommates.
Thursday
Reality hits! This day seems to drag on forever. They decide to buckle down. They have an anxiety attack about staying afloat with school while still enjoying all of senior year. They cling to their last bit of freedom and try to go out with all their friends ignoring the fact they have class the next morning unlike their SoV friends.
Friday
Feeling overwhelmed, they call their parents to get some perspective. Doing so makes them feel like a freshman who couldn’t even keep it together for a full week. They have a nervous breakdown on campus. They realized dropping a class wouldn’t be the worst thing and that it’s still possible to walk in May even with taking summer school. This night is spent relaxing as they come down from the day’s earlier emotional chaos.
Weekend
This weekend was all about organization. They wake up feeling at ease with how the rest of the year will go. Later they realized they only have nine months to find a job. Freak out cycle begins anew. So they hit the bars instead.
