James Flynn III There are very few experiences in this life that truly unite all people. Examples of these range from getting into your dream college, successes in college, falling in love, and getting married. These go on to holding your firstborn for the very first time and watching them grow and succeed. All of these, however, pale in comparison to one. Few things have united men for 149 years quite like this one – the trials and tribulations of being a student at MSJ in December.
Few things test your mental fitness quite like this. It is a test of the total person. You can’t study for this one, though. This time moves like the Grinch going down Mount Krumpit, extremely fast. These few weeks are some of the fastest in the world. A few weeks of classes and then a week of midterms. It is a very interesting month. There was a plan to ask a guest to document his month, but the project budget of a dollar was, lamentably, not enough. So I was forced to accept this monumental task with no financial compensation for my troubles. I will provide documentation for the period from Thanksgiving Break through the end of Midterms week.
Embed from Getty ImagesAh, yes, the weekend after Thanksgiving. One of leftovers, slight panic, and football. One wakes up on Friday and says that they don’t want or have anything to do today. I then proceed to set up one Christmas tree and watch football. Nothing of note happens today. Saturday is just basically a repeat of Friday. The only exception is that I start doing math about who will get into the College Football Playoff. On Sunday, I go to Mass and do everything I put off for the past few days. At this point, some team has ruined the weekend. At some other point over the weekend, the family Christmas tree gets put up. It was a lot more fun when you were the one who didn’t have to do all the lifting.
Then, Monday comes once more. I return to school, where there is a common sentiment among all. “I don’t really want to be here, but I have to lock in because midterms are coming.” There is another common and recurring feeling. “I should go study.” One doesn’t study at this point for several reasons. I start going through the motions of a week. The Saint Francis Xavier Mass is around this point, so the half day is nice. Also around this point, I begin to pester for an idea for a Christmas present. I also get pestered for my lack of gift ideas. The week ends, and I go home for the weekend. “I should go study.”
The weekend is CFB championship weekend, so there’s about a game or two worth watching. Enjoy the Christmas vibe in the world. On Sunday, I design a fantasy football lineup with more precision than a person who says that they’ll arrive at 7:23. The next thing is I attempt to understand the reasoning of the College Football Playoff committee as to why they put Team 1 (Let’s call them Alabama), who got blown out in the conference championship, over Team 2 (Let’s call them Notre Dame), who has been really hot lately. The math doesn’t add up. I then watch the Ravens find yet another awful way to lose and complete schoolwork. “I should go study.”
This time, the protagonist of this tale does, in fact, begin to prepare. Pressure makes diamonds, or that’s what I’ve been told. I craft so many flash cards, study guides, and practice tests that I keep Quizlet in business for another year or so. The week is full of preparation, and the studying is intense. We have now arrived at the weekend before exams, which is all about studying. There are no reputable sources about this time other than the fact that people study a lot. A break, however, entails the Army vs Navy football game. After seeking consultation with my legal counsel, I have been advised by my attorneys not to comment further in the interests of everyone’s well-being. On Sunday, the Ravens put up a very solid effort. “I am studying now.”
Alas, we have arrived at exam week. It can and will be conquered. My time at home is the same as last weekend, and it’s all studying. Any other time is spent eating, sleeping, or actually taking the exam. I have observed that a great aid in this is the cocoa and cookies in the Fine Arts lobby. Another aid I have found for myself is coffee. America sustains itself on coffee shops, and so do my exams! But the week progresses. I muster the energy. Weakness and sleepiness come but are fended off. Then, that great moment comes. That feeling you’ve waited all month for arrives. I hand in my last exam of the week, and I leave. I return home to sleep.
Throughout the course of this highly scientific study, I have learned so much. I have learned that what it takes to complete this gauntlet can’t even be attempted to be verbalized. This is truly an academic mountain climb. I feel enlightened in a way. In closing, Merry Christmas, and beat Army!
James Flynn is a junior member of the Multimedia Journalism Class.
About the Author
Owen Kilmurry 
William Southern 
Grant Bodendorf 
Alexander Loveland 