It doesn't seem possible, but it's true---midterms are upon us. Every student I talk to is either studying for a test or writing a paper. As always, students complain about having these important events cluster in a roughly two week period. Some of them even suspect conspiracies on the part of faculty members, that we purposefully plot to make their lives miserable just before Halloween.
I promise, there is no conspiracy. Instead, there is something called a calender, which we must abide by. We have to have midterm grades in by a certain date! And to give grades, we have to give assignments. It is not so complicated, and I always argue that it is good preparation for real life. Do students think the stresses of work and family will always be doled out to them on an even basis? Sorry Wofford students, but here's the deal about becoming an adult---in the future you will have a major project due for your boss on the same day that your car breaks down, you lose your cell phone, your roof starts leaking, and your kid gets chicken pox. Midterms are just good practice for the many collisions of obligations you will have in life after college.
At least with midterms you get a warning!
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