Excuses should only be used so often

I’ve always been stumped whenever I’m asked the question, “what is your biggest pet peeve?”

I believe I have finally discovered my answer: People with poor work ethic.

Specifically, people who complain about their work, but aren’t doing anything to relieve themselves by getting said work done.

Believe me when I say that COVID-19 has impacted me. I feel like I’ve never been more tired and strained in my life.

I feel like I’m always on edge and annoyed with nearly everyone around me because I’ve been at the end of my rope for weeks.

And yes. I am busy. It’s not like I’m complaining about people not getting their work done, but I have all this time for me to get the work done.

I am enrolled in 15 credit hours of higher-level classes. I am the sports editor for The Eagle. I write numerous stories each week and take photos of any and all events when I can. I am also a writing tutor, which I enjoy being at any time I am free outside of the newsroom.

Despite the myriad of excuses I could be using, I don’t. I am mentally, emotionally, physically, and psychologically exhausted, but I’m still getting my work done.

Do I think that everyone has been negatively impacted in the last year? Yes.

Do I think everyone is mentally drained due to the happenings of this past year? Yes.

Do I think everyone deserves a break after what this year has done to people? Definitely.

But that doesn’t mean stop doing your work because of it.

I think that people who are taking advantage of the pandemic by using it as an excuse to not do work are in for a rude awakening when they enter the real world. Cause once this pandemic is over, the excuse will end with it.

They can use it now, but an employer years down the road will not appreciate it. Even if your professor allows it, you’re harming yourself more than you might think. By not holding yourself accountable, you are finding ways to push deadlines back as much as you can. In the real world, deadlines are usually stagnant. 

Plus, the extensions are ridiculous. Students that are using the extra leniency from their professors this semester should realize that they are adding more stress to the professor. If the professor is allowing their students to turn their entire semester’s work in at the end, they just gave themselves all of those papers to grade before those grades are due.

Just because they let you, doesn’t mean you should.

Everyone is frazzled by the pandemic; you aren’t the only one. Suck it up and complete your work. A failing grade won’t be anybody else’s fault except for your own.

Listen to this advice: once you’ve hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up, as long as you put the shovel down.