First, I'd just like to extend a warm welcome back to all of the Jumbos lucky enough to get off campus for Thanksgiving break. Even though break fell unusually late this year (hello, December!), a change of scenery is always welcome, and a change from dining hall food is always needed. Those four days off were, at least for me, a much-needed respite from college, homework and just intelligent life in general (although I do love my family dearly).
And now we are entering the final three weeks of the semester (two, if you're lucky and have early finals). One last week of classes - plus Monday, what is up with that? - and then we're plunged headfirst into the burning hell of finals. Now, you might have read my column a few weeks back about midterm season and about how finals are infinitely preferable. Well, that's just proof that even the best of us must sometimes eat our words: Finals are way worse.
Not only are finals crammed together so as to make studying that much more impossible (I have one a day for four days straight), but there's also that distracting heaven right on the other side: the tantalizing freedom of winter break. Knowing that just a few exams stand between you and vacation makes concentrating that much harder; obviously I would much rather be online selecting my Christmas presents with careful consideration. And then, of course, you have those awful, awful people who have very early finals (or maybe none at all - do you even go here?) and happily leave campus a week from this Thursday or Friday. Between you and me, every time I see another rosy-faced student with a rolling suitcase boarding the Joey when I've still got two finals left, all I want to do is strangle them with the holly hung up everywhere, or at least smack them in the face with a snowball made of ice.
And if, god forbid, it should snow, I will have to deal with all of the little west-coasters who will run to the window the moment the skies open and ooh and aah like they've never seen a snowflake before. They'll frolic outside in the snow, taking adorable Instagram pictures and catching unlucky students like me in the cross fires of their overly enthusiastic snowball fights. From someone who's grown up with winter, all you need to know about snow is that it's cold, wet and has a weird way of getting inside your boots and making your socks uncomfortably soggy. It's beautiful, yes, but it's one of those parts of nature best observed from a distance, like a hunting jaguar or a massive tsunami.
There are some benefits to being one of the Last Mohicans left on campus. When your lucky roommate peaces out on Dec. 12 at noon, you can do all sorts of wonderful things in your now-single. No one will judge you for going without sheets on your bed (really, it's more trouble than it's worth), clothes are optional and when you've been studying for long enough, even that week-old cup of ramen noodles your roommate left behind will start to look appetizing. And, not that you'll have time to go, but the gym will be deserted. Yay fitness!
Overall, finals are horrible. Perhaps horrible is not a strong enough word. When I say horrible, I mean watching your puppy get run over horrible, or trudging through the wind tunnel between Carm and Olin in a full-scale Nor'easter horrible. But, not to fear, Jumbos! If you have a high tolerance for pain, a low sleep requirement and are a good multiple-choice guesser, you might just make it through finals season with enough sanity to turn off the incessant Christmas music and go back to sleep.
LexErath is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. She can be reached at Alexandra.Erath@tufts.edu.
