et me begin this article by saying that I slept through Thursday’s night class (thinking it was Friday) and have been about five minutes late to greater than 50 percent of my classes this week (sorry Mom and Dad). It’s not because I’m lazy, it’s not because I’m unorganized or set my alarm for too late or insist on showering every morning before class. Nope, it’s all because of nature. Here’s looking at you, spring.

Never before has something been able to completely destroy my willpower to do anything school-related like the first stretch of warm weather. The Dell comes to life with Frisbees and blankets and really how am I supposed to stay inside and write papers due next week when I could be in a bandeau and shorts soaking up some rays?

We all know that studying outside doesn’t work. You’re all ambitious about taking your books outside, laying all your notes out on whatever blanket you found first. Music, you think. Yeah, that will help. Results from the lab (personal experience) find that’s actually the worst choice you can make. Once my Dirty Heads playlist starts streaming from my speakers, it’s game over.  Music leads to closing your eyes, and before you know it you’re jolted out of what started as a mid-afternoon nap by a phone call asking why you’re not at dinner yet.

There’s also that smell of spring: a crisp, floral aroma that especially seems to waft its way into the air in the area by the BSC where those thick stone benches are. Framed by trees (magnolias maybe?) you can almost feel the sun shining and breeze blowing on your face just by walking through this little corridor, no matter the time of day. I think it’s one of my favorite places on campus, and I wish those benches weren’t so ungodly uncomfortable and in a spot where you kind of have to say hello to everyone who goes by.

Even though schoolwork is getting more difficult to complete with every passing day, somehow it all gets done by the end of the semester. As of right now, I’m still in my bed at 1:49 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon with two papers due this week. I might be a little stressed out, but I enjoyed watching Saturday’s double headers, cruising with the top down on my Jeep and singing my heart out to “God Bless the U.S.A.” last night way more than I care about work that I know will get done. Maybe my priorities are wrong to some, but I always tell my parents and friends that I would much rather have a great college experience that I can speak passionately about than a 4.0 earned slaving away in the library.

So, the moral of my story, fellow Jays? Walk in the grass barefoot. Take a drive with your windows down and music up. Say yes to all of the opportunities that come your way in the next few weeks. We’ve all heard the old line: the work never ends, but college does; and this year is slipping away as we speak.