Just when we start to tire from our New Year’s resolutions, a new time in our life emerges, a time both dreaded and appreciated: spring semester. Personally, I always feel a resurgence of motivation going into the spring semester. Whether it’s because I spent the past four weeks binging Netflix or because I am simply ready to have something to do, spring semester has always felt like a fresh start. However, I have discovered this attitude only lasts a couple of days at most. Here are the trials and tribulations my motivation and I had to go through during my first week of spring semester. 

Day 1

On day one, my motivation and I woke up strong, strong enough to make and eat breakfast before my first class started at 9 a.m. We absolutely crushed the first class of the day, and although my knowledge of Spanish failed me when I needed it most, I remained positive due to the feeling in my heart that it could get better. However, as the second class of the day started, ended and the final class of the day began, I felt my strong mindset wavering. Three hours of class proved to be nearly fatal to my motivation. To gather my strength, I took a small nap and ate some food to recover, but I seemed to lose my motivation somewhere deep inside the black hole of TikTok. However, my worries were poorly spent because my motivation made a stark appearance at about 7 p.m., just in time to do my Spanish homework. 

Day 2

As I woke up to the sound of my third alarm ringing, it seemed like the second day was going to be three times harder than the first, and I was tired and groggy. My motivation made a fashionably late appearance just in time for my 9 a.m. class, making it a bit easier. However, this was just a small appearance; I slept before my next class, as well as after it. I woke up around 3 p.m., and I felt like a semi-new person, thinking that maybe I would actually get things done. Spoiler alert: I was horribly wrong. Yet again, my motivation failed to show in light of TikTok and Netflix, and it appeared only after the sun had set, long after it was needed. Despite the late hour, I was plagued by the desire for a really good coffee. Alas, maybe tomorrow. 

Day 3

It was this morning that I realized my terrible mistake: No one should schedule three back-to-back classes in one day. I wish I could tell my younger — more naive — self, no, it does not matter if they are only two days a week. It still sucks. By 3 p.m., I was exhausted, and my motivation had only made small appearances between classes, just enough to do last-minute work I’d procrastinated on. Every class was a shot in my motivation’s foot as we fought to hold our ground in the face of readings and endless other activities. I went to bed at 1 a.m. to the sound of “Body” by Megan Thee Stallion playing on TikTok, still really craving coffee. 

Day 4

It was finally Friday. I went to my morning class with a renewed sense of accomplishment. One week down — so many more to go. I finished my first class of the day, and I finally fulfilled my urge to go and get coffee during my break. I may have lost my motivation when it came to doing anything other than getting in my car and picking up Starbucks, but trading my motivation in for an iced vanilla latte was well worth it in my book. My motivation made its final appearance during my last class of the day, and then, just like my coherent thoughts, it disappeared for the weekend, giving me room for some much-needed relaxation.