2008 Woodie Awards
Mr. Peanut
Rise and Shine
Katherine Brannon
Issue date: 3/1/02 Section: Opinion
I have always been a morning person. I think I get it from my mom who used to wake me every day before elementary school with a rousing chorus of "This is the Day that the Lord has Made."
Once I was old enough to protest her off key and annoyingly cheerful singing, I got an alarm clock. This change didn't have an effect on my ability to awake instantly when I knew it was time, and get out of bed and on with my day without hesitation. I didn't even know where the snooze button was.
Just as impressive as my resistance to dive back under the covers for five more minutes was how early I actually arose. Even though I always had thirty or forty extra minutes to do nothing, my alarm was set for 5:50.
Looking back it seems strange that all through high school I got up at such an ungodly hour just for the hell of it. What's even weirder is that it didn't seem to bother me; I never felt tired or took naps, even on days when I was extremely busy.
With such a promising past, I approached my first year at Hendrix with foolish optimism. Eager to get my science requirements out of the way without having to take a lab, and this being the last year I could pull such a stunt, I quickly signed up for two "Concepts" courses.
On receiving my schedule from the registrar I felt proud of my thoughtful planning. Never again after freshman year would I have to think about things like atoms, mitochondria or parabolas (did I mention I'm an English major).
Glancing at the times for each class I realized that Concepts of Chemistry and Concepts of Biology, which I had during the fall and winter terms respectively, were both during first period.
No problem, I thought, I can get up at 6:30, have time to eat breakfast, and still be at class on time. What's with all these complaints about 1st period anyway?? That's like forty extra minutes of sleep for me. I'll be fine. I'll be better than fine. I'm gonna kick some 7:40 ass.
Yeah, right. Not to say it didn't start out well. Those first few weeks of fall term, I had seven hours of sleep a night, and felt all refreshed and ready to go when Dr. Kopper began talking about hydrocarbons. And then, once the adjustment period passed, and college really started, I began to wonder what in god's name had I been thinking.
See, what I didn't understand was that there would be weeks were I didn't get to bed till 3 a.m., and Tuesdays where I just didn't get to bed period. Needless to say, such a drastic lack of sleep has taken its toll on my early bird skills.
The other day, I hit the snooze button so many times that I actually ended up running, at 7:45 to class in my pajamas. As winter term winds down and I near the end of my 1st period stint, the sound of my alarm is becoming as irritating as my mom's perky hymns once were. I've definitely learned my lesson about early classes and college: be sure to wear something decent to bed, just in case you get to wear it to class the next morning too.
Once I was old enough to protest her off key and annoyingly cheerful singing, I got an alarm clock. This change didn't have an effect on my ability to awake instantly when I knew it was time, and get out of bed and on with my day without hesitation. I didn't even know where the snooze button was.
Just as impressive as my resistance to dive back under the covers for five more minutes was how early I actually arose. Even though I always had thirty or forty extra minutes to do nothing, my alarm was set for 5:50.
Looking back it seems strange that all through high school I got up at such an ungodly hour just for the hell of it. What's even weirder is that it didn't seem to bother me; I never felt tired or took naps, even on days when I was extremely busy.
With such a promising past, I approached my first year at Hendrix with foolish optimism. Eager to get my science requirements out of the way without having to take a lab, and this being the last year I could pull such a stunt, I quickly signed up for two "Concepts" courses.
On receiving my schedule from the registrar I felt proud of my thoughtful planning. Never again after freshman year would I have to think about things like atoms, mitochondria or parabolas (did I mention I'm an English major).
Glancing at the times for each class I realized that Concepts of Chemistry and Concepts of Biology, which I had during the fall and winter terms respectively, were both during first period.
No problem, I thought, I can get up at 6:30, have time to eat breakfast, and still be at class on time. What's with all these complaints about 1st period anyway?? That's like forty extra minutes of sleep for me. I'll be fine. I'll be better than fine. I'm gonna kick some 7:40 ass.
Yeah, right. Not to say it didn't start out well. Those first few weeks of fall term, I had seven hours of sleep a night, and felt all refreshed and ready to go when Dr. Kopper began talking about hydrocarbons. And then, once the adjustment period passed, and college really started, I began to wonder what in god's name had I been thinking.
See, what I didn't understand was that there would be weeks were I didn't get to bed till 3 a.m., and Tuesdays where I just didn't get to bed period. Needless to say, such a drastic lack of sleep has taken its toll on my early bird skills.
The other day, I hit the snooze button so many times that I actually ended up running, at 7:45 to class in my pajamas. As winter term winds down and I near the end of my 1st period stint, the sound of my alarm is becoming as irritating as my mom's perky hymns once were. I've definitely learned my lesson about early classes and college: be sure to wear something decent to bed, just in case you get to wear it to class the next morning too.
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