I love stories. The fact that they are conceived from imagination makes them more real than reality―almost ethereal because they defy time’s constraints. As I try to saturate my hippocampus with social psychology theories―as I try to stay awake long enough in Lamont to craft coherence in Microsoft Word― I find myself turning to stories for comfort. Below are some literary tips on how to endure finals week, i.e. the lowest layer of Dante’s inferno.
1) “Courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” ―Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
A) Brain dead from your CS50 final project? Staring blankly at an ER essay prompt? Harness the audacity to caffeinate your brain, slay that essay, and give your finals a lickin’!
2) “‘I can’t believe that!’ said Alice.‘Can’t you?’ the Queen said in a pitying tone. ‘Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.’Alice laughed. ‘There’s no use trying,’ she said: ‘one can’t believe impossible things.’‘I daresay you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen.‘When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day.Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
A) Realized that you have to write four final papers in one night? It’s certainly possible. B) Eat breakfast. As a matter of fact, eat breakfast and lunch and dinner. Annenberg is open to upperclassmen during reading period, so every student from every year can dine on cage-free eggs, tomato basil ravioli soup, and some crispy swai fish sandwiches.
3) “Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.” ―Margaret Mitchell, Gone With the Wind
A) Scarlett O’Hara utters this eager proclamation in reference to winning back the suave, non-damn-giving Rhett Butler. But, the pronoun ‘him’ can easily refer to your GPA, sleep, or sanity. Tomorrow really is a new day (cue music from Annie; yes, I’m referencing novels AND musicals #2in1).
4) “…yes I said yes I will Yes.“―James Joyce, Ulysses
A) Molly Bloom knows where’s it at. She uses the affirmative phrase to accept her husband’s marriage proposal; President Obama used it to mobilize a campaign; you can motivate yourself with “YAAS” to get out of bed and attend your exam on time.
Best of luck on exams and papers, and don’t forget to let out your primordial rage during primal scream!