This semester, I have two final exams, two final papers, and a final presentation. I certainly have a lot of work to do, but I think that if I budget my time well, I should be able to finish up my work just fine. Like any other part of the academic semester, budgeting time wisely is important during finals week.

Finals often contribute a good portion to the final grade one receives in a class. My final examinations have typically constituted 20%-40% of my final grade. This may seem like a lot, and it is, but it is also important to remember that finals are simply the conclusion to a semester long of learning and discovery. Finals are a chance to show what you know.

Final exams require a lot of work. However, the feeling you get after completing all your tests is extraordinary. I don’t look forward to finals season, but I do view it as a positive challenge. It is one last extreme moment of academic devotion, followed by a blissful release of stress.

I will be taking Ancient Philosophy, Zen and Japanese Culture, Interpreting the Fall Landscape, Senior Seminar, Relaxation, and Pre-law Seminar. A diverse list of classes!

I am looking forward to all of my courses, but right now I am particularly excited for Zen and Japanese Culture. It is a class offered through the religion department. The following is an excerpt from the course description, “Corresponding attention will be given to the cultural expression of Zen, particularly in Japan: haiku poetry, sumi-e painting, the Noh theatre, raku ceramics, the tea ceremony, the martial arts, landscape gardens, and flower arrangement.” I think that the course will be a unique compliment to the other courses I have taken at Gustavus.

Registration at Gustavus is a slick process and allows GAC students to create a class schedule that has character. By that I mean each GAC student is able to pick courses that best reflect their interests and personalize an academic roster, that will both challenge and reward.

The first question, of course, is desktop or laptop? There is no doubt that desktops give you the most bang for your buck. You can buy a cheaper and more powerful computer if a desktop is chosen. However, you sacrifice portability and desk space. Desk space is more important than you may think, especially as an incoming student living in the dorms. Gustavus does have computer labs all over campus, so even if you have a desktop, personal computing can be done in places besides your room.

Laptops are generally a bit more expensive, but are easy to bring from one place to another. I chose to purchase a Dell Laptop, which has worked pretty well thus far. The computer I bought is large, weighing around 10 pounds with a 17 inch screen. It has affectionately been called, The Toboggan (picture engulfing a smaller computer) . If I was to buy a computer today, I would look for something much smaller. I think a 15.4 inch screen is a good size. I also would look for a computer with long battery life. After all, one of the benefits of laptop computers is that they can be used away from an outlet. 4-6 hours would be an appropriate life for a college laptop battery.

There are many great computer choices out there, and before buying, I encourage all potential Gusties to really think about what needs they would like their computer to fill. It is also important to mention that the Gustavus computer labs make it possible for a Gustie not to need a personal computer at all.

During the middle of the spring semester, a complete course list is released. This list indicates the classes offered for the next semester at Gustavus, their meeting times, along with who will be teaching the class. Students are then able to peruse the list to construct their schedule. The amount of freedom to choose courses and schedules varies depending on each student’s situation. Sometimes, a student needs to take certain classes to fulfill major or area requirements. At other times, students are able to pick and choose an eclectic course load.

Next year, as a senior, I should be able to choose a mix of courses because I don’t have too many required courses left at Gustavus. I hope to take a photography or video media course from the art department. I also have been interested in taking either guitar or violin lessons.

Enrolling in interesting classes is the first step towards having another great semester at Gustavus.

With unlimited resources, study rooms, private desks, and an abundance of computers, the library is a great place to get work done. Gustavus is a part of an interlibrary loan system, meaning that the GAC library can borrow books from other prestigious library’s if a student needs them.

As a biology major, I have found that the amount of scientific journals that Gustavus subscribes to is helpful when writing research papers. The library even boasts an assortment of comfortable lounge chairs that can make taking a nap unavoidable.

I also appreciate the GAC library because it is continually purchasing new releases for students to enjoy. I recently picked up a copy of Michael Pollan’s new book, An Omnivore’s Dilemma, which thoroughly examines the facts and ethics behind the food that we eat. A good read.

The GAC library is a useful aspect of Gustavus that shouldn’t be overlooked.

As finals approach, students begin to spend more and more time in the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library. The library at Gustavus is a wonderful place to find sources for papers, quiet study rooms, computers, and comfortable study chairs. The library is open until 1 A.M. most nights, meaning that students have the opportunity to use the library no matter what their schedules are like.

One of my favorite traditions at Gustavus, which occurs the day before finals begin, is an event called Midnight Express. The gathering begins at 10 P.M. in the Gustavus Marketplace and features performances by Gustavus Jazz Ensembles. While the Jazz bands perform, various members of the Gustavus faculty serve free food and beverages to Gustie students. Midnight Express lasts until 12 A.M., and throughout the evening students pack into the marketplace. The atmosphere is filled with excitement, and I have always felt that attending Midnight Express puts me in the right state of mind for my important tests the following day. I think it is so neat that the college hosts one last student gathering before Gustie’s disperse for the summer months.

Completing finals is both exciting and a little bittersweet because finishing your last exam signifies another completed year at Gustavus. An academic year at Gustavus flies by, and I can hardly believe that I am just about done with my sophomore year as a Gustie. I have had a wonderful time this spring semester, and I hope that my thoughts concerning life at Gustavus have been helpful. And remember, being a student at Gustavus is an extraordinary experience!!

In preparation for my new classes, I purchased the textbooks that I needed for my courses from the Gustavus bookstore. I was able to purchase my books on-line, and the total price came to around 320 dollars. I am always a little surprised about the price of books, but I quickly remind myself that it is money well spent. As usual, there were quite a few gems among the books that I bought, including The Odyssey, The Inferno, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Pride and Prejudice, and a very good evolution textbook.

This spring, I am enrolled in four courses. I am taking The Literary Experience, Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, Formal Accelerated Logic, and finally Social and Political Philosophy. After completing two weeks of classes, I am very pleased with how my academic life is going.

My typical spring semester day begins around 9:45 A.M. I like to wake up with enough time to shower before my first class, which begins at 10:30 A.M. However, when I am feeling particularly tired, I occasionally get out of bed at 10:22 and frantically hustle to class. Classes at Gustavus are usually 50 minutes long. I have two classes in the morning that together last from 10:30 until 12:30. Following these two classes, I have a hour lunch break. My afternoon also holds two classes that run from 1:30 until 3:30 P.M. In the evening, I attempt to exercise, socialize, and attack the pile of homework that usually awaits.

The spring semester is off to a quick start. I am already reading various books, writing papers, and studying for exams. Life is busy, but with the hectic lifestyle comes a real sense of accomplishment. I go to bed exhausted but feeling genuinely happy with what I accomplished throughout the day. Being a student at Gustavus is exciting and challenging, and the start of this semester has strongly reminded me of that!!