Kathryn Pellicotte ‘29
Like that one orange bulb on a string of Christmas lights.
Christmas break is just around the corner, and as we head into finals week it stretches ahead of us like a shining beacon of hope. We reached our hands eagerly towards it like depressed, sleep-deprived Gatsbys yearning for a glowing green light. This is the last leg of the race. The home stretch. Our legs are growing weary and our minds are becoming fogged over with fatigue. The finish line is in sight so we persist, but only just.
The simplest way to describe our common state is with the phrase, “We are burned out.” In other words, our motivation has gone down the drain in a quick little whirlpool and we feel an odd sense of commonality with a piece of whole wheat toast that was forgotten in the toaster. To put it simply, WE. ARE. DONE.
Now I know what you upperclassmen might be thinking. “Those measly little freshmen. What do they know about burnout?!” It’s true that we freshmen still have the remnants of the glimmer of first-year-of-college-hope in our eyes, and we haven’t suffered the long term effects of complete exhaustion and border-line insanity like the rest of you old geezers. Alas, this article shall, for the benefit of all of us bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshmen, serve as a warning of what is sure to come. And what is sure to come? Well… let’s just say in terms of motivation, it is only downhill from here.
Battle-weary, and on the brink of utter defeat, we attempt to carry on through the semester. Seniors are beginning to resemble the wounded who have fallen into the blood-soaked grass of the battlefield. As we charge past, they reach out to take hold of our legs, urging us to save ourselves from the deathtrap that lies ahead. Their eyes are bulging and bloodshot as they plead with us, “Don’t go forward, kid. Save yourself. SAVE YOURSELF!!”.
This widespread burnout stretches far beyond the academic sphere into the social scene. It’s hard enough to string two thoughts together, and naming five brothers has grown into a task not fit for the weak. Most of us are left freezing outside of the community-building, stinking, and absurdly crowded social gatherings, and so we must attempt to retrace our steps in order to make it back to our cells.
Through it all, as I have said before, we carry on. Walking, limping, crawling, and inching our way to the haven that is Christmas break. It is so close we can almost taste mom’s home cooked meals. We can almost feel the warmth from our own fireplace while we sip on a mug of peppermint hot cocoa. Is that…chestnuts? Roasting on the fire? Outside on the street the hometown folks are dressed up like eskimos. Everybody knows what makes the season bright, and that turkey and mistletoe have their work cut out for them this year.
All and all, even the dullest of lights may shine again. So JUST HANG ON by whatever holiday thread and sliver of joy you can manage, and remember…
“The true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart” – Santa (The Polar Express)
Featured image courtesy of Formplus
Copy Edited by Annamaria DeCamp ’27
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