Midterms are rough on everyone.
They’re like a gaping, evil hole of hell right in the middle of the semester. Almost before you know it, that President’s Ball high has worn off, leaving you with nothing but the bare shell of an existence until Olds Glow.
That, and more than two whole midterms to take in a single week before spring break.
Your health is usually the first thing to sacrifice in these desperate times. I know, because I had to take a Western Heritage midterm on the same day as a two-page paper for my Aristotelian Philosophy class last semester, and I’ve been recovering ever since. If you’re anything like me, sleep is the first thing to go.
Now, I’ve been no angel in this regard. Especially this semester, my usual bedtime (8:46 p.m. sharp, right after Olds visiting hours close at 8:30) has crept later and later. I stayed up until nearly 11 p.m. owning a Platonist two weeks ago — even though I had to get up early at 8 a.m. in order to get a full breakfast in before my 10 o’clock. And that’s before adding in the stress of midterm season.
In this last week — due to frantic midterm studying, putting the beginning touches on another three-pager on Aristotle’s thoughts on dancing, and soulfully crooning “Don’t Stop Believing” on the Olds lobby piano — I’ve only been able to get seven and a half hours of sleep each night.
The bodily wear and tear is beginning to take its toll. I keep dozing off in class (it’s OK because we were talking about nominalism) and I’ve even started drinking tea in order to get enough caffeine (I’m up to a full cup a day now).
My mind, body, and soul, but mostly my body, have been put through the wringer of midterms and wracked mercilessly. I have been purgated and punished and pleonastically pummeled. It’s a harrowing experience that no Hillsdale student should need to face.
That’s why I’m sharing my expertise in dealing with midterms on only seven and a half hours of sleep.
Prioritize your hours of shut-eye above all else during midterm season. Cleave to them like a squirrel cleaves to the last acorn that falls from a tree in autumn, when all the other squirrels are also trying to get theirs, the furry little rats.
Put your friendships on pause — they’ll understand how much stress you’re under. And if they really love you as a friend, they’ll know just how important these midterms are to you.
Skip meals to get more study time.
Be willing to cut class to study as well. Remember, your grade on any given midterm could make or break your entire life, but missing one eensy-weensy itty-bitty class won’t affect you at all. Besides, memorizing the Four Causes for your Aristotelian Ontology class is a much better use of your time than, say, French, which was invented by a nation which has never won a significant land or naval battle and has been compensating ever since.
If you need to, make the ultimate sacrifice — the greater studious devotion hath no man than this — and skip Swing Club. It will make you feel mean and small inside, but there’s no help for that: If you want to pass midterms, you need to commit.
These tips can’t take away the pain of midterm season — nothing can, really, except for maybe the hope of spring break — but it will get you through, and you’ll be well-rested, too.
Know that there is light at the end of the midterm tunnel: you just have to close your eyes to see it.
Go in peace. Be like Aristotle.
Joseph P. Oldsboy is double-majoring in Philosophy and Olds with an ex in Mac. Following the end of midterm season, he hopes to return to a healthy sleep schedule.
This piece was edited by Zack Chen.
