I have so much work right now I shouldn't even be writing this column. You have so much work right now you shouldn't even be reading it. Seriously. Put this down and do some real reading.
Even if you're still with me (hey, I'm still writing), a possible thought that ran through your mind was: She has no idea. I have way more work. We University students are so uber-competitive that we love to brag that we, in fact, do more than anyone else here. Amusingly enough, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say something like, "Dude, I haven't done work in three weeks, and I'm fine!" or, "Man, I've been sleeping so much, it feels great," or "Library? We have a library?"
Whether it's paper writing, problem sets or Comm School reading, there's never enough time -- and we constantly stress about it. Each concentration at this University has its own particular brand of complaining associated with it. I've taken a random sample of observations from a social interaction perspective. Don't mind the fact that I have no background in social interaction, because obviously I never leave Clemons, where I'm currently typing this.
First and foremost are the Commerce students. Lots of reading, lots of discussion, the prerequisites -- I really do sympathize. Then I remember a couple things: no Friday classes, no tests, great placement and grade inflation. Seriously guys, I don't want to hear it anymore.
Second, and a particular favorite of mine, is the A-School banter. A close friend of mine is a member of this prestigious community, and we never hear the end of the models needed to be built or the other computer terms I don't understand, but she offsets her clear concern about the amount of work she has with one of the most active social lives of anyone I know. It makes me lose just a bit of the sympathy I have.
Our English majors here complain about reading "Ulysses" or writing a short story. I would like to point out two reasons why they should count their blessings: One, those stories that you have to labor over? They have plots. They have people who do things other than make graphs or come up with equations. And two, I know for a fact that people write those stories under certain influences other than caffeine.
Then there are the Education School students. Has anyone ever heard them complain? Admittedly, the following anecdote was not at U.Va., but I still feel it is applicable and makes up for my lack of friendships with Ed School students here. A good friend of mine at another university once complained about her elementary geometry class. She told me that cutting all those shapes out was getting to be quite hard.
Of course, there are some students I can't find anything to come up with a sarcastically belittling comment for. Our E-Schoolers have my respect in the highest form. That does not look fun. Math majors, I have one word for you: Why?
The sad part of this story is that even with these quick reminders that everyone's life isn't actually all first-floor dungeons and Clark cubicles, that doesn't take the pain away when you're stuck in one of the aforementioned places for any period of time over five hours. On a weekend. And you know your neighbors are playing 80s music.
So we go to the gym, we go to bars, we volunteer and we try to exit our little seventh circle of academic hell, but it's never far from our minds. We play sports, we find time to eat, we sit on facebook and check people's profiles, but still the thought persists: I should be doing work. Where do we find the balance?
Maybe I'm way off; maybe most of my collegiate brethren are organized speed-readers who don't meander off and end up sake bombing or watching a sports game when they should be reading and researching. But if I'm in the midst of that bell curve I have to learn so much about, then I just made you stressed out by reading this column. Those "Stall Seat Journals" in first-year dorms had some great ideas about relaxation -- if you have any time to engage in them.
So my big question is: Does this stop after graduation, or does it get worse? Because if it's the latter, I really might have to curl up in the fetal position and hope someone will bring me meals and new shoes every once in a while. Most likely, though, I'll just keep pressing on like the thousands of other students who have needed an extension, more sleep and some free time to watch Family Guy.
Clare can be reached at ondrey@cavalierdaily.com.
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