Spring semester

Spring semester has always been a superior semester for me. The sun starts to shine and the snow starts to melt, but most importantly, I become an absolutely insane academic weapon and bring my GPA up enough to counterbalance the effects of the circus act I call my academics every fall semester.

This isn’t to say fall semester doesn’t have its high points because it most certainly does. I love the weather and the football and the excitement of starting a new academic year. However, there’s just something in the air that makes spring semester all the more easy to lock in.

Over the years, I’ve tried to pinpoint exactly what makes spring semester my time to shine, and I believe it’s because I’m a morning person. If I could wake up everyday as the sun is rising between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., I would have enough time to properly get my day started before classes. When the sun isn’t up, I just don’t feel the same level of productivity.

The beginning of the warm weather that comes during the early spring months also helps me stay motivated. Most people say the warm weather makes them less inclined to do school work, and although this may be true when I’m in the classroom and wishing to be outside, I could work on homework for hours if you put me outside in the sun.

My roommates and I continuously find niche spots around campus where we can get our fix of Vitamin D while studying and maintaining our gobsmackingly good grades.

Similarly, as a girl who listens to music while she’s studying, spring and beach coded music makes me more motivated to get outside and be productive. Listening to “Love song” by 311 or “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison while working reminds me summer is coming and I have a future to be working toward.

In all honesty, spring semester just simply makes me happier, which makes me more inclined to get things done. Nothing compares to the feeling that the beginning of spring brings, especially after so many months of cold and snow and darkness.

I generally am a summer girl, so it’s not surprising spring semester brings out my true spirit and is when the sparkle returns to my soul, but the semester truly does make a difference in my academic performance and livelihood.

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Fall semester

The transition to fall semester classes has always been the easiest for me. Not only does the semester come with better weather, but it comes with a much lighter academic load.

I have only experienced two fall semesters so far, but I found they were both better than my spring semesters. I think most of it can be attributed to the way I feel with the changes of the weather. It also helps that I usually only schedule four classes during those times.

The fall semester has always been my favorite. Starting the semester off with the hot summer days reminds me of home and helps motivate me to keep moving — mostly to get into an air conditioned building.

But the warm sun on my skin always makes me feel like I can get anything done. It helps me be outside more, finding fun places to study or hangout with my friends.

The sunny weather is not the only weather that helps me feel like I can get through the semester, though. As the seasons change and the real autumn starts to creep into those sunny days, it makes me want to enjoy as much of the nice transition as possible.

I find myself thinking more about what fun or cute outfits I can wear, which always drives me to actually go to my classes. When I start to get a little too cold, I always end up at some cafe where I can sip on a warm coffee and get some homework done.

It also helps that the course load tends to seem lighter or to go by much quicker at least. With all the holidays wrapped up in one semester, fall flies by in a flash.

By having so many events to go to with those holidays, I find myself trying to get my work done quicker so I can see my friends and not have to worry too much about assignments looming over my head.

Do not get me wrong, spring semester is great too, but I think the fact that there is less winter weather to endure in the fall makes it the better of the two. Whenever that first layer of snow hits the ground or the temperature gets closer to the negatives, I find it difficult to want to get anything done at all.

Until the actual “spring” part of spring semester starts, I am less motivated to do my work before meeting friends, even though I know it will stress me out in the long run.

There is something about starting fresh for a new year in fall that really makes everything feel amazing.