Learning Experience: When the going gets tough, the tough get going

            Finals week. The most hated week of the semester for college students across the country. Tests, papers, and projects pile up creating stress levels that are debatably unbearable for some. This semester, finals week at Texas Christian University has had an extra twist, much to the students’ dismay. This twist, as any reasonable reader from the Fort Worth area would assume, is the Icepocalypse of December 2013. For the past few days, sleet, snow, freezing rain, and a multitude of other inclement types of weather have turned Texas Christian University’s campus into a mad house.

            In my day-to-day walks around campus I have witnessed the affects of the Icepocalypse first hand. Cars are covered in ice and snow, walkways are completely iced over, and it is absolutely freezing out. I am from Arizona, so the severe weather has been rather tough for me to deal with. In the month of December, I am used to sunny and 70 degrees. Not 25 and icy. Nonetheless, I have done everything in my power to deal with ice ridden finals week with the best of my ability. However, it has not been easy. The past few days the library has hardly been open, the BLUU has limited hours and food, and the campus is nearly impossible to navigate by car or foot. I especially struggled with the library closing at 5:00 p.m. for the past few nights in a row. Typically, I study the best late at night and in the library. I have a tough time getting work done anywhere other than the library. I find it nearly impossible to study in my room with all of the distractions that are around. I’m looking forward to the weather improving so I can get back in my studying niche in the quiet section of the library.

            If the Icepocalypse taught me one thing or another, it’s that the saying, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” is definitely one to live. Despite the fact that conditions have not been exactly ideal for studying, I have pushed on. However, the same cannot be said for all the students on Texas Christian University’s campus. Some are “over school” and have not put much effort into their studies this week. Others ceased studying on Sunday in hopes of a snow day and cancelled finals on Monday. My question to these kinds of students has repeatedly been, “where is the dedication?” Given the cost of tuition and the importance of maintaining a high GPA to get a job after college, some students seem to just not care.

            On the other hand, there are a large number of students that do put in a tremendous amount of effort during finals week. I consider these students to be “tough”. Through all my observations this week, I have seen the tough students making good grades and finishing out the semester strong. These are the kind of students that will develop a strong work ethic for the future. I like to think of myself as one of them.