COLUMN: No more school, no more books

From Kieran Darcy's, "From Downtown," Fall '98 From Kieran Darcy's, "From Downtown," Fall '989 a.m. on a typical weekday: I've actually made it out of bed and across campus -- a major accomplishment which I'm quite proud of. Things didn't look too promising at 8 a.m. when I first started cursing out my alarm clock. But it was one of those mornings when you keep hitting the snooze button by mistake. The damn thing keeps blaring every five minutes until you go to class just to get away from it. The sad thing is, as entertaining as my dreams may have been that particular day -- it was Baywatch-related, one of my favorites -- I missed out on a lecture that I would have really enjoyed on a topic I love. How did I find out what the topic was? I got the notes from my friend so I'd be prepared for the final exam. You've got to have your priorities, right? Back to the present: We're all on our own now, no more lectures to try to stay awake through. In all likelihood, classes have already pretty much ended in your minds. You've already tuned out. I bet some of you are reading this in class right now, saying to yourself "Damn, this guy is teaching new material in the last class?" Oh, the horror! People are preoccupied with other life and death issues, as well: "Where is the final exam being held? Is the test going to be cumulative? Can we bring a formula sheet?" Such is life around finals time. Please, everyone just calm down and relax. Take a step back with me. Before many of you begin to hibernate in your rooms for the next week and a half, let your mind stray from your grades and tests to more important matters. Believe me, there are much more important matters. Let me ask you -- how many times have you heard a fellow student say something like, "I wish we didn't have to worry about grades, then I could really just concentrate on learning." A hotly debated idea -- never more so than in exam periods. It is true that this statement often comes from someone who just isn't interested in doing too much work -- but it is also an honest reflection on the part of many hard-working students. Most of us are definitely far too preoccupied with grades. And this can be a hindrance to your education. Don't you ever wish you could just listen to a great professor instead of worrying about what you'll be responsible for on exams? But the value of learning for its own sake is not my main point here. How about this one: "College isn't really about classes, so much as it is about learning to live on your own and having wonderful experiences." This argument is likely to be overheard late at night at a bar or party as an excuse for staying out really late and blowing off classes or schoolwork the next day. But it, too, has merit. There's a space between classes and grades, and social life and experiences. Back in high school, this could be called the realm of the extracurricular. But back then it was important chiefly as a way to impress colleges. We've grown up a lot since then. I was sitting at my desk a couple of days ago, working on this very column. I had tons of other schoolwork that needed to be done, including a paper due the next day -- but there I was, writing my column instead. I wasn't getting a grade on this -- but I took the time to write it because I feel a lot more pressure to write a good column than a good paper for a class. It means so much to me, and I love doing it. This column has been a wonderful opportunity for me, and I have immensely enjoyed devoting my time to it. Just as I enjoy going to basketball practice every day with my JV teammates, who care so much about our team when most people don't even know we exist. I'm a very lucky person. Suddenly, things came into perspective for me. And I wanted to share this with you. Many of us are involved in activities here at Penn outside of the classroom, whether it be work, sports, research, or other activities. And we all are busy here. Grades are indeed important. But at this time of particular grade obsession, remember that they are only letters on a transcript. Classes are important for their own sake, too. But when you look back on your time here, they will be the last thing you think about. If you take away one piece of advice from my columns, it is to preoccupy yourself at Penn with something you really love to do. We have lots of free time. Don't just sleep all day and party all night. Take a look at how you are using your time here, and try to take better advantage of it. Find something you really love to do, and devote yourself to it. Next semester can be a new beginning. Don't let it pass you by.