The semester is almost over, but don’t slow down

The air is warming up the frozen sandhills of Chadron, the days are longer, and the animals are coming out of hibernation.

Judging by Nebraska’s weather standards, the real beginning of spring is coming soon.

This means that the end of the semester is approaching. Time to get ready for warm days, extra money for summer work, swimming, late nights, and — except for summer classes — no homework!

But with all of this anticipation there comes the risk of slacking off until the last minute.

Everyone knows at least one person who is only going to classes sporadically, and some having resigned long ago to their rooms or off-campus merrymaking.

All that is good and fun now and then, but  school isn’t over until it is over.

All of us still have some delayed projects, essays, research papers, designs, experiments, events, speeches, and reports still to finish by the beginning of May. It seems to many that there is so much work but so little time.

And don’t forget that finals are coming soon too.

But don’t worry, for the best way to deal with these burdens is one day at a time. Planning and being willing to sacrifice personal time for work will be beneficial in the long run.

After all, the sooner you get done with the homework and other academic functions the more time you will then have for fun.

Nothing feels better than enjoying yourself without having that little cloud of “I have to do that thing” lingering around you.

You don’t have to deprive yourself of free time, but just don’t let a five minute break on Facebook turn into an all night chatroom party.

So don’t panic, stay focused, and get what you can done now. The old saying “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow” doesn’t work when tomorrow is the deadline for that paper!