Deadlines, we got deadlines

November 22nd, 2007 by lynnylchan under School Life

It’s Reading Week, which means the university campus is stuffed full of muggers. And at this point in time, everyone’s a mugger. Exams begin on Saturday morning, and I have the honour of being one of the season openers with my Forensic Science exam.

This late in the semester and I still have deadlines? Indeed. I have a topic review due tomorrow. In a huge break with tradition, it’s already finished, with a good 24 hours to spare. Usually I cut it terribly fine.

But from another point of view (namely mine), I’m already 3 days overdue. I was supposed to get it done by Monday, so that I could have 3 comfortable days of poring over the intricacies of Forensic Science. The plan was to write it all weekend, tune it up on Monday, and then pat myself on the back.

Well, nothing ever goes as planned. Saturday was spent lazing around, Sunday was spent watching Beowulf (great fun), and Monday and Tuesday passed in much the same manner. On Wednesday I couldn’t motivate myself enough to get started, even though all the readings had been done, and I just needed to type 2000 words. But I just couldn’t get my ass in gear.

It’s very strange. I’m starting to think that I am only motivated by deadlines. 10 years ago at the age of 13, I was feverishly doing piano theory homework in class, where I hit upon the insight that “I work better under pressure”. It’s still true now.

This doesn’t mean that I’m not a self-starter, or that I’m inert until someone comes along and gives me a push. I’ve never missed a deadline, you know. I just… like living on the edge.