Before Winter Break, I had high hopes for myself. Go ice skating with friends from high school. Make a scrapbook of second year thus far. Read a book that is not upstairs at the U.Va. Bookstore. This list goes on and on, in case you were wondering.
As I left my apartment and headed for home, I remember sensing a distinct spirit of excitement. Yes, it had been a crazy month of difficult exams, ruined stress balls and a random rave at Clemons. After all of the craziness, I was eager to go home and accomplish something not on a syllabus.
Once I was back in Philadelphia, however, the fatigue started to set in. My typical day went as follows: Somewhere late in the morning, my eyelids would open heavily, and for a while I would stare at the wall, unsure of whether I was actually awake. Then, after rolling over, I would think about what I was going to do that day. Would I do some midwinter’s shopping? Take my dog for a walk in the park? Get a head start on birthday gifts for friends, my beloved Aquarians? Oh, the possibilities.
Maybe then I would rotate once more, and at that moment I would realize just how comfortable my bed was. How warm my pajamas were. How dark my bedroom was with the curtains closed. And, though I tried to free myself from the inviting coziness of my pillows and sheets, I couldn’t.
Unfortunately for me, my motivation had dulled almost instantly upon my arrival back home. Something had changed, as if automatically, forcing my body to assume some inactive, almost comatose-like state. And, as a result, I became a slacker. That’s right, people. You heard it here first.
So, while being productive posed a less shameful answer to “What did you do during break?” (a question I’ve been asked literally 30 times since arriving back in Charlottesville), lounging around my house ultimately became the activity of choice. I realize that I am divulging this to you all at the risk of shaming my name and looking like the laziest bum alive. This, in all fairness, could potentially be true.
Some of you went skiing or traveled abroad. There are University students who went skydiving or got tattoos. No offense, guys, but overachieve much? I mean, you work yourselves to the bone during the week, party way too hard on the weekends and still have the energy to not resemble a Michael Jackson in “Thriller”-esque zombie during the break?
I’m really not trying to criticize you, my little productive ones. We all did a couple of fun things during the winter holiday, even me. For example, after gradually peeling myself from my mattress, I climbed a mountain, rode a camel and visited an art museum. But I accomplished these goals in moderation. For every one thing I did, several items on my to-do list claimed salutary neglect and established states of independence. But I digress.
Anyway, here’s to you, collegiate undergrads who stayed sunken into their mattresses, whose winter wardrobes consisted of sweatshirts and sweatpants, who spent every day watching reruns of “What Not to Wear” on TLC. I know I can relate to your particularly leisurely nature all too well.
So while your parents call it slacking, know yourself to be merely relaxing. We University students work hard and play hard. We need what little spare time we have to rest hard, am I right? Procrastination is not the plague of the every college student, but rather the sign of a vacation well-earned. Congrats, kittens. I hope you enjoyed what you very much deserved.
Lauren’s column runs biweekly Thursdays. She can be reached at l.kimmel@cavalierdaily.com.
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