Coming toward the end of April it commences. Almost like a low hum buzzing descending on the college, no one speaks of it, yet everyone knows. Swarms of students stumble into the library, perhaps for the first time, the memories of fun and frolics are long gone and the missed lectures regrets rear their ugly head. Yes, it’s study season once again. For those of you entering third level next year, or those who are popping their college exams cherry, welcome. I am here to take you through the inevitable moments that will arise and library etiquette which I urge you to take into consideration. Nobody wants to be “that library guy/ gal”.
Firstly, toilets. As I have only ever studied in DCU, DCU is where my experience lies. DCU library is unique as the toilets are kept underground. Like another challenge set by the exams Gods, so you must attempt that half run/ walk, not letting anyone know that you should have started your journey earlier and are now touching cloth. Going to the toilet can be problematic, finding that one cubicle which isn’t blocked, has a working lock AND toilet paper is a treat. I, myself, have found the perfect pair of cubicles who never let me down. I would share my knowledge but it has taken me two years to cultivate it so you bet your backside I am going to make you work for this piece of information.
Then we have the study rooms, where students predominantly go to distract themselves from actually using the library to study. These study rooms aren’t sound proof and people rarely remember this fact. From sitting outside, you hear every emotion from life’s rich tapestry; frustration, elation, tension and out and out procrastination. And of course, you hear people’s random ramblings which bear no relevance to the task at hand. Yes, Aoife and your wildly boring family trip to the beach, I am talking about you and Daniel, if you’re reading this, I would strongly urge you to go see a doctor about that.
And what about yourself? You who have done the dirty work of coming in at stupid o’ clock to grab a desk with a plug, you who have snapchatted every single one of your friends a picture of a vast array of highlighters, notes, stressed out faces and the college filter to really pound the point home. Accompanied by the caption ‘hello darkness my old friend’ (guilty). Now that you’ve made it thus far, what will be your next move? Well if you’re anything like yours truly, then you’ll find the lecture notes online, stare blankly for roughly five to seven minutes before googling whatever happened to the main characters of Sister Sister? What can I say, priorities? You who will go home every evening feeling defeated by the education system ogling longingly at your vodka whispering ‘soon my precious’.
But that is the beauty of exams, they will be over, soon. And soon, you will have a whole three months of freedom and Daniel’s worrying set of symptoms will be a thing of the past. So, do go to the library, do study and absolutely smash your exams. Then come back in September vowing to stay on top of your studies like never before. New year, new me. Until its study season once again and you’re eating raw cookie dough pretending you’re not that far behind. Ah the great circle of life.
PS. FINE, the back two toilets on the left, straight ahead as you walk in, now quit the third degree.
Thumbnail by: Mari Helin-Tuominen