Believe it or not, the last day of classes is Friday, Dec. 11. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t the slightest idea how we’re already a little more than a week away from completing the fall semester. As we approach the end, try to remind yourselves of three important realities: if you haven’t handed in that paper that was due Sept. 24, you probably shouldn’t worry about that anymore; if your professor still doesn’t know your name, maybe stick your hand in the air once or twice in the final few class meetings you have; and if you haven’t been to class since syllabus day, try showing up with a few plates of food to share with the professor and the class — quality, not quantity.

 

1 Cheer: Cyber Monday

There’s something oddly satisfying about sitting behind a computer screen in sweatpants and a T-shirt, coffee by your side, with 50 tabs open and 13 different carts filled with miscellaneous items. You don’t have to worry what you look like, you have access to all of your Thanksgiving leftovers while you shop, and you don’t have to wait in horribly long lines filled with people who can’t comprehend the concept of patience. ‘Murica.

 

2 Cheers: No-Snow November

Well, it’s officially December and other than the few isolated, sorry excuses for snowfall in November I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this gorgeous weather. Nicely done, Syracuse. Just when you finally gain some attention as one of the snowiest cities you go and ruin it. Just kidding. Warm weather for life. (I’m writing this on Nov. 30 so I’m banking on no snow this evening).

 

3 Cheers: BuzzFeed Videos

I was told a while back that BuzzFeed videos are hopelessly addictive, and after doing some research on roughly 100 videos between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m., I am willing to corroborate this claim. With finals week coming up and with paper deadlines inevitably looming, I’m advising you all to stay away from BuzzFeed. They pack the perfect amount of funny into a reasonably timed video and the focus of the videos are things that make you wonder why you didn’t think to film you and your friends doing the same things.

 

1 Jeer: Mental Discombobulation

I’ve had enough. You know that feeling when you’re so far behind with work and deadlines and have been for an entire semester and even though you’ve been doing this whole college thing for a few years now you still can’t figure out how to manage your time and your friends and the entirety of your life, past, present, and future? You don’t? Well aren’t you special.

 

2 Jeers: Unemployment

When I’m in the middle of working 30 hours a week in the middle of a semester, I can’t stop thinking about how nice it would be to not be working. But then I’ll stop working in favor of focusing on other more important things, and after I find myself spending $1,000 a week on Chipotle and Panera alone, working doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Point is, I’m unemployed, I like to eat, and I’m running out of money. Yay college!

 

3 Jeers: Post-Break Blues

My motivation was on a sharp decline just as we arrived at the Thanksgiving break. I told myself this semester was going to be different, that over the break I was going to catch up on all of my work and come back for the final two weeks way ahead of the game. As usual, I did absolutely nothing over the break and have returned with even less motivation and even more work to do. I like the Thanksgiving break, but maybe we should just get Thanksgiving Day off so we can plow through the remaining weeks of the semester without losing any momentum.