I’ll Think of a Title Later…
One of the most ridiculous things
is that the underlying truth didn’t cement itself inside my head. Even now as I
am typing I am procrastinating. Well, okay, definitely not to the horrible
extent I did previously, but I am working on homework that isn’t due for
another day or two while I have a big math test looming over me…
TUESDAY
“Welcome back class, I hope you had
a good weekend! Today we are going to get introduced to your new project. It
has two parts – a poster, presentation, and a writing section all on
photosynthesis. It will be due…” as the teacher continues I think about my
strategy for getting all this accomplished in the time given.
"Oh.
Okay.", I think to myself. I understand photosynthesis somewhat so I should be
able to do this pretty well!
SATURDAY
It’s been a couple of days. I think
about getting ahead, and how I should get started on the biology project, but I
don’t really feel like it. Today was a long day, I’m tired.
SUNDAY
I should probably start that
biology project I have to do. I take out all of my school things. I grab my
poster. I turn on the computer. It’s been a long day and I don’t feel like
working on this project right now either. I plug my headphones in and listen to
music. Oh, I’ll only listen to a few songs, it shouldn’t hurt. I should
probably check to see what happened today in the world. I go to the CNN
homepage. I read a few stories. I go to the NPR homepage to see a different
viewpoint on the stories. Next I check out USA Today.
“Time
for dinner!”
I
unplug my headphones, and go eat dinner…then I watch television…then I decide
to stop working on homework for now.
MONDAY
“Okay class, you get half the
period to work on your projects! Remember, it is due Thursday!”
Finally, I get time to work on this
assignment! What should I start working on first? I have to make a diagram
about the overall process and then another diagram about the two separate parts
of the process. Next I have to write a lengthy paragraph for each diagram explaining
how they connect and what they do. I open the biology textbook to the chapter
on photosynthesis. How much space should I put for each part? I find a ruler. I
space everything.
“What
did you say for question number twelve on the lab?” asks one of my
group-members.
“I
talked about how the phenol red indicator’s lack of color change indicated that
the carbon dioxide had left the solution, and how this meant that
photosynthesis occurred.” I respond.
“How
come that means photosynthesis is occurring?”
“Because
the second stage of the process – light dependent reactions – the first part of
which is carbon fixation where carbon is taken in by the plant and attached to
RuBP to make 3-PGA.”
“Oh!
Okay! I think I understand. Thanks.”
I begin outlining my first title:
“Light Dependent Reactions”. My letters are inconsistent. I rewrite. I begin
delving into the book to better understand the subject, which is essential to
make a good diagram. The bell rings.
TUESDAY
“How’s that biology project going
Tristan?” asks my mother.
“Oh, uh, not so good. I have a half a day tomorrow, I’ll have plenty of
time to work on that project!”
“You should try to work on it today
too.”
“Yeah I probably should.”
I end up not having any time, and
don’t even open my biology binder.
WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY
I arrive home at 11:30 am, and
decide to watch some TV and eat lunch. I begin mulling over my options.
“BARK!”
an impatient command from my dog to walk him outside. I know that he is tired
of being in the house so I walk him all along the perimeter of the property
line. Even though I am on the edge of where we can go, he pushes further. He
whimpers.
“Sorry
Sam!” I say.
I
settle down inside and it’s already 12:00 pm. I make myself a pizza.
“ARE
YOU READY TO PLAY MILLIONAIRE?!?!?!?” the booming voice of Cedric the
Entertainer fills the room.
“Yup!” I respond.
It’s
already 1:00 pm, but I decide to finish watching a good movie that just started
on TV! Why not? I still have like 8 hours till I have to go to swim practice.
That’ll leave me with plenty of time!
By the
time I finish the movie, even the bad side of me which is allowing me to
further procrastinate feels guilty. I start my homework at 2:00 pm.
I plug
my headphones in and start listening to music, because it has been so helpful to
me before right? NOT. I continue with my usual news check.
I work
on all my other subjects of homework –algebra 2, world history, English, and
the like. Putting all else before the dreaded biology project.
Eventually
my mother comes home. Then my father comes home. I decide to start the biology
project.
“Dinner
time!”
“Ok. I
will probably not get this done,” I say out loud.
“What? I couldn’t hear you!”
“Nothing!”
When I resume, I finish only one part of
three. It is 7:00 pm and I have to get ready to go to swim practice.
When I
leave the Wheaton athletic center, I feel a huge gust of cold winter wind
splash me in the face like a wave. It motivates me. I go home and it is 10:00
pm.
I work
quick and methodically. No, I actually don’t. I agonize over every letter,
every line in my drawings. I want to do well on this project; it’s a big part
of my grade. I erase and I rewrite. I erase and I rewrite.
I read
the textbook. I write an explanation. I sketch a complimentary diagram. I read
the book. I write. I sketch. I read my notes. I write. I sketch. Repeat,
repeat, oh…and repeat.
I look at the clock. 11:30 pm is
stamped in bright text on the computer. It’s ridiculous to think I have been
home for twelve hours.
I work even more furious, but get
bogged down as time passes. I had to get up early this morning, just like I
will have to tomorrow for school.
“You shouldn’t stress over every
little detail, go to sleep at a reasonable hour!” my mother says.
“Okay, but I want to do well!” I
respond. I resume the long trek to finish the assignment.
“The left over G3P becomes sugars,
and the electron carriers go back to the light dependent reactions to start the
whole process over.” I write, finally finishing my biology project.
I stare at the clock: 1:06 am. Good
morning world. I fall asleep, and cringe just a bit harder than normal when I
hear that lovely noise.
“ERRHH ERRRRH ERRHHH”, this alarm
is music to my ears.
I wake up five hours later and get
ready for school. When I go into biology class I present my project and all
goes well.
“Good job class! I was very
impressed by your stellar work! Now that that is over, we are going to get
started on our next project. This is exactly like your last one you did, except
it is on cellular respiration, so it is more involved. It is due…”
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