My desk currently contains two shots of espresso coffee, crumpled pieces of paper, and one completely sleep-deprived individual. I’ve been going through what students call “hell week,” a week before a long vacation that is bombarded with tests from all subjects. I’ve already had four summative assessments, and I’m about to face two more tomorrow. Natural SIS instincts would tell me to get myself together and start studying for the two summatives I have tomorrow. However, another instinct kicks in, telling me to play at least two rounds of Tetris before I start.

After rounds of endless self-talk (as well as Tetris), I take a quick glance at the clock; it is already 9 p.m. and I haven’t started studying for either of my tests. A wave of desperate anxiety flows through my veins. Finally getting control over myself, I tell myself that I will start right this moment. After ten minutes of intense studying, I suddenly think to myself: I’m feeling a bit hungry! I finish the sandwich from the fridge and start studying—but now that I’ve eaten everything, a food coma hits me, so I decide to take a “quick nap.”

This cycle of procrastination is a devastating yet common behavior shown by many of my fellow students. We all want to get good grades, but balancing a bright academic career and having fun are for some reason like the yin and yang—direct opposites—except for the fact that there is absolutely no harmony between those two.

Yes, you may think it is unfair to complain about an “arbitrary concept” of procrastination. But for once, I do not want to blame students for falling victim to procrastination. As a student myself, I know that the powerful force of procrastination is impossible to resist, no matter how strong your will to study may be.

At the end, I want to congratulate all the students who still manage to balance the fun and the grades. After all, everyone procrastinates at one point in their day. It is indeed a difficult task—and those who manage to overcome procrastination deserves credit.

Dear Procrastination, 

I hope you’re long gone.

Sincerely,

Junie (Ye Joon) Kah, on behalf of all SIS students.