UOW OUT OF SESSION: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE D U C K LY Georgia Holloway @grumpygeoria
When exams end most uni students discard the textbooks for togs and hit the beach. Uni is over, summer is nearing, and sweet freedom has arrived! Yet there are those who return to lecture halls after just two weeks; the infamous summer session (cue internal groaning). Most people think the only ones crazy enough to take on twice the amount of work in half the time, (summer session runs for just 7 weeks as opposed to 14) are those who have failed before, but this isn’t necessarily true. There are those wanting to speed up their degree, some are approaching graduation and catching up on credit points, and there’s international students eager to get acquainted with UOW. Okay maybe some of those international students are a bit crazy… I’m not crazy, maybe just a little masochistic. I begrudgingly enrolled in a summer session when I found out my degree has a compulsory statistics subject. At first it feels like you’ve shot yourself in the foot… but it gets better… sort of… you can decide for yourself. These are the 10 lessons I’ve learnt during summer session: 1. Shoes are optional, thongs essential Footwear stigmas dissolve in the December humidity, so wear what feels right. No judgement here. 2. Coffee lines decrease dramatically There’s no 20 minute wait for your cappuccino during summer session. 10 minute lecture break? You do have time for that! 3. The gong shuttle bus is no longer a crowded sweat vessel You can actually sit down. On. An. Actual. Seat. Plus your personal “bubble” remains uninvaded.
4. You will appreciate the small things Like all the dedicated staff who sweat it out doing maintenance and repair works, thanks guys. Or you’re friends since they’re all down the beach and you have no one to talk to in study breaks. 5. Waking up will get hard You’ve got a 9.30am lecture and it’s already 25 degrees outside? I feel your pain but at least you’ll get a parking spot. 6. Your holidays aren’t actually holidays ‘Tis the season to be- oh wait, I have a midterm on January 5th. Better rethink your summer social calendar. Summer session be like #soznotsoz. 7. You will have sad moments… Most likely by the time midterms roll round. Moments of doubt and frustration are inevitable. Breathe… it’s only 7 weeks. 8. …and your friends won’t understand “It’s just summer session”. Thanks buddy, would you like to sit my exams for me? Uh huh, Uh huh yep, so please kindly shut up and let me wallow in self-pity. 9. Everyone is unnaturally chill Seriously, everyone is abnormally patient. Even the ducks are more docile; you can even eat lunch in peace. 10. The hard work will pay off Hopefully once it’s all over you can look back with relief, another subject bites the dust. So if you’re thinking of enrolling in a summer session, it’s a bit like yo-yo dieting, sometimes good, but more often bad. Take my lessons as warning; if you’re prepared for the worst, it probably won’t be that bad.
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