My Personal Muses

Two sets of memories go a long ways in helping me endure finals.

#1: HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Of all things. Where I grew up, there weren’t many shows in town, but high school basketball was the biggest one we had. Getting ready for the big games was quite a rush, and when I find myself preparing for finals, I revert to those thoughts. I try to push myself (no pain, no gain) while simultaneously taking care of myself (rest, diet, exercise). And when I walk out of my apartment and cross the street to face each final, I swear I can hear the crowd.

#2: HURRICANE KATRINA: Of all things. Out of the many lessons I learned in that crazy time of life, the one that helps me survive finals is learning that I can do more than I ever thought possible. MUCH, MUCH more than I ever thought possible. For a long time after the storm, we worked hard 18-19 hour days, breaking long enough to sleep on the floor for a few hours. We eventually began taking a half-day off. When I grow weary of study, I think back to those days and remember that I have more left in me than might appear on the surface.

Three days of study + Three days of finals = Six days left.

Time to get to work.