The Black Sheep
Fre e th ...lik rou e e gh xp a n res ake si d r ng y un. ou ..do rs it! elf
• a college newspaper that’s actually about college •
Volume 2, Issue 5 4/5/12 - 4/26/12
theblacksheeponline.com @BlackSheep_VT
combating the Spring Semester Slump danielle lewis wrote this
Now that midterms are over and the weather is heating up, classic campus pastimes of skipping class, forgoing homework assignments, and bubbling in random answers to exams that were not studied for present themselves as the harsh realities of the spring semester slump. Though final exams and the year’s end are so close, that extra moment to bask in the glorious sun with a red Solo cup in hand takes precedence as we each trade our inner bookworm for our out-of-control alter ego. If nothing else, take comfort in knowing that we’re all struggling through this last month of work together, some of us much more sober than others. The trick to beating academic apathy is to start small and reward yourself along the way for each small success. The demise of motivation is sudden and sneaky – you’re a stellar student one month, then all of the sudden you find yourself face down in someone’s front lawn on a Monday morning. You can remember the brunette you sloppily hooked up with more clearly than you can remember the last time you were even in a classroom. You’ll have to trick yourself into outsmarting lethargy’s clever ways. Admitting and acknowledging that you have a problem is the first step to making a change. For example, if you wake up around 3:30 to discover you have already slept through your first three classes, it’s all good! Accept that you probably should have shown up to lecture, even for the sole purpose of trolling Facebook for any long overdue spring break picture posts, but go ahead and indulge in a drink of your choice to motivate yourself to catch your last class in time. If you set guidelines, like agreeing to spend the time that you are skipping class on something productive, like online shopping or tanning, you will be one step closer to salvaging the semester.
least show up to all of them). Sometimes all you need to jump-start your daily routine and get you back into your academic groove is a little change of scenery, so there is no shame in inviting that slampiece that sits next to you (…oh wait, you never go to class…) in your Driver Improvement Program out for some casual flash card flipping and study guide quizzing in the Horticulture Garden.
Just like the rule of thirds in photography, a similar type of rule also applies for homework. You should make a deal with yourself to always complete one third of your homework. Committing to a small portion of your full workload will make up for how frequently you skip class and will reenergize you by proving that your goals are attainable,giving you the motivation you need to go out strong for your final exams (or at
No matter how far you’ve strayed from academic excellence, it’s never too late to turn the last few weeks of class around! With just a little thought about the inner you, you’ll be able to set goals and reward yourself accordingly, ensuring that you’ll end the semester with grades that are not just okay, but a little above average. That should be good enough for the ole’ parents, right?
Get real, your options are pretty limited. see page 5
Other stuff
Inside
Summer Job Options
comm. majors suddenly not tOo useless! see page 12
Get Anyone to STFU
Sloane takes us on a guided trip of the Tour de Franzia.
see page 13
Best Franz Forever