NationStates Jolt Archive


Particularly Hellish Weeks/Months

Bolol
01-04-2008, 01:27
I am on the verge of completing one of the most hellish months of my academic career. In total: 1 microbiology exam, 2 psychology exams, 1 sociology exam, 1 anatomy and physiology exam, 2 microbiology lab reports and 1 microbiology lab practical, all packed into 20 or so days.

Crazy right? Though I know it's nothing compared to the work that many do in say, med school or other doctorate programs.

Thankfully it all ends after tomorrow, on April 1st of all days. After that it's just finals that I have to worry about, and having mastered the ability to study for 6 hours straight, I shouldn't have a problem.

Maybe I can start relaxing again, and paying more attention to this strange sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen (I kid).

I'm wondering though, who here's had particularly hellish, busy, or otherwise "bad" weeks or even months?
Mad hatters in jeans
01-04-2008, 01:36
Earlier in March i had 4 exams in 3 days, and a psychology report to complete for a week after that, and another test in that week.
yeah that was busy.
I don't like exams.
New Genoa
01-04-2008, 01:51
I can never study for 6 hours. Guess that's why I settle for Bs.
Amor Pulchritudo
01-04-2008, 03:43
That sounds quite hectic, but personally I don't feel that exam-period is exactly the most 'hellish' of times I've had.

Good luck with it all.
King Arthur the Great
01-04-2008, 05:09
Hell Week:

1) Week of intense hazing for a fraternity's incoming pledges, designed to test the emotional and mental endurance of the pledges in their quest to acheive brotherhood.

2) The week immediately preceding opening night of any major theatrical production, likely to feature at least one major illness, three injuries requiring ice and peer pressure against lawsuits, significant sleep deprivation, and a major development requiring a possible all-nighter.

3) Week 4 of SEAL Training, a particularly harsh time designed to push the mind to its absolute limits of stress and exertion, and then go further, in order to strengthen the psychological fortitude of the trainees.
Prekel
01-04-2008, 05:43
I am on the verge of completing one of the most hellish months of my academic career. In total: 1 microbiology exam, 2 psychology exams, 1 sociology exam, 1 anatomy and physiology exam, 2 microbiology lab reports and 1 microbiology lab practical, all packed into 20 or so days.

Crazy right? Though I know it's nothing compared to the work that many do in say, med school or other doctorate programs.

WOW. I have nothing on you. In two or three months, sure, but I've never been forced to do all that in a month.

Probably going to be like that all the time if I actually pursue that med school dream... :(

How did you get through it? Please don't spare the details.
Limericaust
01-04-2008, 05:54
I am on the verge of completing one of the most hellish months of my academic career. In total: 1 microbiology exam, 2 psychology exams, 1 sociology exam, 1 anatomy and physiology exam, 2 microbiology lab reports and 1 microbiology lab practical, all packed into 20 or so days.

Crazy right? Though I know it's nothing compared to the work that many do in say, med school or other doctorate programs.

Thankfully it all ends after tomorrow, on April 1st of all days. After that it's just finals that I have to worry about, and having mastered the ability to study for 6 hours straight, I shouldn't have a problem.

Maybe I can start relaxing again, and paying more attention to this strange sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen (I kid).

I'm wondering though, who here's had particularly hellish, busy, or otherwise "bad" weeks or even months?

Now I don't feel so bad about my life. Thanks for the perspective.
Demented Hamsters
01-04-2008, 06:22
I've just come back from spending 12 days down in Fremantle and Margaret River, WA.
The weather was fantastic the entire time.The sea crystal clear, the surf just perfect.
I went surfing, snorkelling, swimming. I saw and swam with dolphins, saw the international buskers festival, went on a wine and brewery tour, visited a Chocolate factory and 'Ye Olde Lolly Shoppe', took in some caves, tried to learn the didgiredoo, went on a bushwalk and handfed some Kangaroos.
I came back on Saturday tanned and having gained at least 4 pounds. Brown, fat and happy.


Feel free to hate me.
Brutland and Norden
01-04-2008, 06:39
I'm wondering though, who here's had particularly hellish, busy, or otherwise "bad" weeks or even months?
A visual exam, written final exam, clinicopathologic conference, and case report in nephrology within three days. ;)
IL Ruffino
01-04-2008, 06:49
This week is going to suck because some of my friends have decided to hate each other, and because I refuse to get involved, I'm hearing all these bullshit comments about how they better be careful about what they say around me because I might go back and tell on them.

Academics? Me? Please..
Bolol
01-04-2008, 14:34
WOW. I have nothing on you. In two or three months, sure, but I've never been forced to do all that in a month.

Probably going to be like that all the time if I actually pursue that med school dream... :(

How did you get through it? Please don't spare the details.

Hard to say. I worked hard when I had a chance. And when I mean "work hard" I mean it. Balls to the wall. And the results show in your grades.

I learned later though that it's not worth much when you're so tired and borked out of your mind that you can't even function, let alone take a test. So make sure after you work to relax to the point where you don't even think about it.

Here's how I worked.

I would wake up and eat first of all. Then head out with a two-liter bottle of Coke Zero (It's like Diet Coke but it tastes better) to the library. I'd find a comfortable, quiet and out of the way spot and slump down. I'd make sure to bring my computer's charger with me. Next I'd find something to listen to in the background (silence will drive anyone crazy). For me, it was a five-hour speedrun of Super Mario Sunshine playing in the background (Hell, it worked). Then, study. I'd take little 5-10 minute breaks here and there, but I would pretty much grind for about 6 hours.

That may not work for you. You may want to grind for 2 hours, rest for 1 hour, then get back to work. For me, it wanted to get the work out of the way.

That way, if I knew I worked hard, I could treat myself to another 6-hour grind session, on my Xbox 360, without guilt.
Laerod
01-04-2008, 14:41
The year started off with my computer dying. Then my step-grandfather. About three weeks ago, I discovered I have a blind spot on my left eye. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Demented Hamsters
01-04-2008, 15:08
The year started off with my computer dying. Then my step-grandfather. About three weeks ago, I discovered I have a blind spot on my left eye. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Not if it's coming at ya from your blind spot, you won't.

anyhoo, I thought everyone had a blind spot in their eyes or do you mean this is a newie?
Laerod
01-04-2008, 15:19
Not if it's coming at ya from your blind spot, you won't.

anyhoo, I thought everyone had a blind spot in their eyes or do you mean this is a newie?A (relatively) large spot of black on my left eye. Luckily the doctor told me it isn't something that will grow and that it's quite likely to go away after time, so now I can sleep at night without fear of waking up with only one working eye.
Isidoor
01-04-2008, 15:30
anyhoo, I thought everyone had a blind spot in their eyes

Yes, it's where the optical nerve enters the eye. The eye is a very interesting organ, the nerves going to the light-receptors are in front of them so in order to get from your skull to your recptors they have to go trough a hole in the retina (receptor-layer), which forms your blind spot. Fortunately this doesn't bother us, most of what we see is projected into a special groove (fovea) where there are more cone cells and where they are closer to the surface. Our eye makes very rapid movements to scan what we're looking at with the fovea in order to get a good image from it.
Bolol
01-04-2008, 15:34
Yes, it's where the optical nerve enters the eye. The eye is a very interesting organ, the nerves going to the light-receptors are in front of them so in order to get from your skull to your recptors they have to go trough a hole in the retina (receptor-layer), which forms your blind spot. Fortunately this doesn't bother us, most of what we see is projected into a special groove (fovea) where there are more cone cells and where they are closer to the surface. Our eye makes very rapid movements to scan what we're looking at with the fovea in order to get a good image from it.

I learned that in my A&P lab! Yup.
Brutland and Norden
01-04-2008, 15:41
Yes, it's where the optical nerve enters the eye. The eye is a very interesting organ, the nerves going to the light-receptors are in front of them so in order to get from your skull to your recptors they have to go trough a hole in the retina (receptor-layer), which forms your blind spot. Fortunately this doesn't bother us, most of what we see is projected into a special groove (fovea) where there are more cone cells and where they are closer to the surface. Our eye makes very rapid movements to scan what we're looking at with the fovea in order to get a good image from it.
Also, we have good binocular vision. What you don't see in the blind spot in one eye, you see in the other. That's why most of those "experiments" that make you realize you have your blind spot will ask you to cover/close your other eye.
Isidoor
01-04-2008, 15:51
I learned that in my A&P lab! Yup.

I had an exam about that a few months ago (it was a little bit more detailed than that though :p) and it's fairly interesting.

We had almost a month and two weeks for two huge exams. Which sucks. It's far easier for me to study smaller pieces and have more exams, that way I don't have to plan to much and I'm under constant pressure. Now we had to study anatomy, histology and embryology of the 'movement system' and anatomy, histology, embryology and physiology of the senses and nervous system in a few weeks. And if we fail on one of these parts of each block we had to do the whole block again. I failed (9/20:rolleyes::mad:) on the second one (I only studied 2 weeks instead of three because I was lazy and ill in the beginning) I should seriously start doing more before the exams begin, but it seems that I have quite some problems with planning/discipline/staying focused on my work etc, which sucks.
Nanatsu no Tsuki
01-04-2008, 15:57
I am on the verge of completing one of the most hellish months of my academic career. In total: 1 microbiology exam, 2 psychology exams, 1 sociology exam, 1 anatomy and physiology exam, 2 microbiology lab reports and 1 microbiology lab practical, all packed into 20 or so days.

Crazy right? Though I know it's nothing compared to the work that many do in say, med school or other doctorate programs.

Thankfully it all ends after tomorrow, on April 1st of all days. After that it's just finals that I have to worry about, and having mastered the ability to study for 6 hours straight, I shouldn't have a problem.

Maybe I can start relaxing again, and paying more attention to this strange sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen (I kid).

I'm wondering though, who here's had particularly hellish, busy, or otherwise "bad" weeks or even months?

I had 6 hellish months back when I was in the final stages of my thesis. It was horrible because I was also finishing 2 MA classes at the same time, I was dealing with a nasty thesis councelor plus I was making arrangements to leave for the US. So, I feel empathy for your case and I wish you the best. Just try to take things as easy as you can and are allowed. Do it, because after it's all over, you may become sick.;) And never underestimate your strenght. You can do it.:)
Brutland and Norden
01-04-2008, 16:00
We had almost a month and two weeks for two huge exams. Which sucks. It's far easier for me to study smaller pieces and have more exams, that way I don't have to plan to much and I'm under constant pressure.
Our system was changed recently. We now have exams almost every week, and we're still under constant pressure because we have exams every week. One of the more hellish weeks was when there were two exams, and a case report in Immunology in a week. To add difficulty, Clinical Epidemiology opted to put its damn hard exam on the same day as the second Immunology exam. I flunked two of the three exams. :p
Neo Art
01-04-2008, 16:08
I had to take a bar exam...hell week? Try hell summer
Reeka
01-04-2008, 17:58
So far this week..

* Lost an election so I'm not an officer next year for an organization I'm in. Not a bad thing (I'm happy for the girl that got it, and I plan on being an active non-officer anyway), but still a bit of a bummer.
* Found out we have to do the elections over again. This frustrates me a little.
* Got insulted by my friend/recording partner over a test.
* Thought that I had a Copyright Law test Monday, then Recording test Wednesday. They both ended up being on Monday, and I hadn't even looked at the material for the Recording test.
* Found out I don't know anyone who will loan me auxiliary percussion instruments for a recording session on Thursday. Wouldn't be a big deal, but this is our final project.
* Twisted my ankle Sunday evening, right before a recital (that I was singing in).
* FORGOT about a recital that I was supposed to attend last night.
* Am being chased by someone I don't particularly want to be chased by, and am unable to hang out with someone I'd like to hang out with.
* Found out that health services at my school doesn't file insurance, so getting a vaccine updated would be $130.
* Have been unable to sleep at night for, oh. Three weeks. I've been running on short naps and caffeine. (No, the caffeine didn't cause it. I had actually been drinking maybe a caffeinated soda every other day, if that, at first, and never late enough in the day to affect my sleep.)
* Was chastised by my friend/recording partner about the sleep issue. Like I can help it.
* Have been frantically trying to plan a camping trip for Friday, while the number of girls going keeps changing. It's making me a little nuts.
* Desperately need to talk to someone in my department, because I don't know if I have 18 or 21 hours of classes in my major left to take.
* Desperately need to be a better student, because I have to pass every class I take, first time, between now and next spring. This includes my summer classes (all 16 credits worth).

So I don't know if it's been a week or month or what, but it feels like I've been stressed out for a while. Between that and being paranoid I'll have another panic attack (I had two within a week not too long ago), life has been crap.
Tapao
01-04-2008, 18:05
hmmmm well atm I have a 45minute presentation to write, a 12minute presentation to write (on a political group which apparently only exists in my teachers mind), a 10000word essay to write, two 3000word essays and a 2000word essay all before the 24th of April. Oh yeah and I am also in the middle of buying and moving house as well as jobhunting


I have pencilled in my nervous breakdown for the 12th of April, wish me luck guys!
Bolol
01-04-2008, 20:45
I had 6 hellish months back when I was in the final stages of my thesis. It was horrible because I was also finishing 2 MA classes at the same time, I was dealing with a nasty thesis councelor plus I was making arrangements to leave for the US. So, I feel empathy for your case and I wish you the best. Just try to take things as easy as you can and are allowed. Do it, because after it's all over, you may become sick.;) And never underestimate your strenght. You can do it.:)

Like I said, my pithy problems are nothing compared to a doctorate program. Thank you though. :)
Prekel
02-04-2008, 00:08
Hard to say. I worked hard when I had a chance. And when I mean "work hard" I mean it. Balls to the wall. And the results show in your grades....

Thanks for sharing! Study is hard work and it's encouraging to learn about real people with such a highly developed skill of concentration.
Tmutarakhan
02-04-2008, 21:24
In February my building burned down and I lost most of my things, and I got a weird medical diagnosis that I still don't know what to do about, and I alienated the person I care about most in the world. I'm still kind of depressed.
Mad hatters in jeans
02-04-2008, 21:25
In February my building burned down and I lost most of my things, and I got a weird medical diagnosis that I still don't know what to do about, and I alienated the person I care about most in the world. I'm still kind of depressed.

have a bannana, i find they help in times of need.
Lunatic Goofballs
02-04-2008, 22:23
I dated a girl in college that started pretty well, then went downhill fast, first dealing with her overprotective psychopathic brother who ended up beating the shit out of me and putting me in the hospital, then her equally psychopathic reaction to me pressing charges, accusations of stalking and a cinderblock suspiciously ending up sticking out of my car windshield and four slashed tires.

I made it a point never again to date anyone crazier than I am. *nod*
Tmutarakhan
03-04-2008, 19:30
have a bannana, i find they help in times of need.
Why thank you sir, may I have another?
Londim
03-04-2008, 19:37
This reminds that I need to complete the final part of my Journalism portfolio.
However after these next two weeks up of work its just Party Party Party. Woot!