It’s time to get off the ‘procrastination station’

As the year ends, I begin to think the same things that I do every April.

Maybe I can push some homework deadlines, and in turn time seems to speed up when I need it the most.

Procrastination hasn’t always been in my skill set, so why all of the sudden am I a seasoned pro at it?

When I look at the foundational issues for procrastination, there are only a few things that I can blame, aside from myself of course.

Online classes seem to be the playground with which I exercise my newfound skill in procrastination.  Deadlines are set for a certain day a week, and the mystery of when a teacher will ask you to produce homework is gone.

The element of surprise and a bit of fear is lost, which is what I was used to in high school.

In modern times, it seems like more things are guaranteed to us.  Students don’t always “want” it bad enough, and we just go through the motions to finish out our classes and get the credits we need.

What happened to good old competition where there were incentives, and even where a good grade was incentive enough?

Through this reflection, I try not to lose much hope in present day societal values, as well as my own confidence in succeeding academically.

I am of course taking a bit of a comical approach in this endeavor, which helps me greatly.

Past students seemed to have their ducks in a row, at least when we look back at the “good old days.”  Were these students really much better at academics than we are?

My personal belief is that they were much better at hiding it, and keeping their mouth shut about it.

Our technology and networking keeps students connected on a different level than has ever been possible.

We no longer suffer in silence like they did, and we become better at expressing ourselves than any generation of the past.

My favorite way to handle stress is through laughing at my mistakes.

Just last night my Facebook status was about procrastinating.  I found out a composition was due later than planned and channeled my joy through my status.

Many of my friends must’ve found it amusing, because seven of my friends “liked” it.  Of course, they must not have liked the fact that I cannot seem to work ahead like a good kid.

Comic relief makes the world go round, as it did nicely in this case.

In the end, I hope students don’t lose hope when they find themselves knee-deep in procrastination.

We learn the most about life in our impressionable years, which we actually are in the midst of right now.

Lessons are around every corner, and all we can do is accept them as they come, just like everything else in life.

Keep laughing, work harder, and promise to start earlier next time.