Hello, Midterms

Midterms are finally looming in the future-that-is-not. Students at this point in their second term of uni have either

• Been on top of things and have no reason to worry
• Lulled themselves into a false sense of security saying that THIS WEEKEND will be their catch-up weekend and they are in a state of denial that they haven't achieved anything yet.

Guess which group I’m part of? What makes things worse is that I have no desire to work my butt off for Russian history (my worst subject this term. See this post) because the prof said he always makes sure the class average for the midterm is a fail or just above… I thought I would be up to the challenge but I don’t think this is a challenge from such a great prof who covers a lot. It’s because he’s so vague. His starting phrase today was: "I know Napoleon has nothing to do with Russia but he does his impact is so much so to Russia."

      

It’s bad enough I can’t understand what he’s saying because he garbles all his words. I don’t mind accents but he murmurs a lot of the time as if he’s sharing something with himself and then smiles and looks at us imploringly… we then realize that he’s asked a question and everyone ends up just staring back and he just giggles and looks at us.

This is all just involving the prof. You don’t want to know about the ripe smells coming from the dude who I got stuck by. I have a very sensitive sense of smell. When my mom chops onions in the kitchen I have to close the door to my room and bury myself under my blanket so I won’t tear up…

Old English literature is not a bad class. It’s just overcrowded and full of know-it-alls who jump to answer the profs questions and bring in everything they want to connect to the readings. I come to class to learn, not to hear one guy take over the class and ramble about how this connects to the time he took a class about something not involved with the topic at hand. It’s also a morning class. Now 9:30 am doesn't seem like such an early class but factor in waking up at 6 AM to get ready and have time for the commute, it becomes a hassle. And I don’t drink coffee because I hate hot drinks and because  I get sleepier when  I drink it.

'18th Century Studies in English Literature' and 'Europe in the Later Middle Ages (800-1350)' are my two favourite courses. Both the profs are always on top of things, and allow for student contribution but within the confines of their lectures which are all-encompassing and perfect. Those are the two classes where I’m sure I’ll do fine but again, I haven't’ been up with the readings for history and English I haven’t really outlined possible stances on main ideas discussed in class which usually gives me a good background for tests.

I’m so behind on everything. I hate public transit. And I’m pretty sure a lot of other people feel that way because I received a campus-wide email today warning about suicide this time of year and telling students to ask for help. I hope it never comes to the point where any of you reading my ramblings(few as you may be) want to commit suicide but please reach out to someone and ask for help. Nothing is worth taking your life away. Sod school and all of academia if it means you’re going to be depressed enough to take your life.

Good luck to all my struggling contemporaries. May your pens stay sharp and the ink flowing like thoughts on a good day.