Never was this more true for me than this week when LITERALLY a dark cloud came over my house and turned my world upside down…well, for a few days anyway.
If you were anywhere near the Weather Channel last weekend you heard about a little storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico called Hurricane Ida.
And if you looked REALLY close at the map projecting this storm’s potential spot of landfall, you would have seen my house. Before I go any further, let me tell you that fortunately the storm was downgraded before it ever hit land, and my family and friends were safe and sound…just a little wet-make that realllly wet!. What was the big deal, then, you ask? Well, the hurricane predictions meant NO SCHOOL FOR TWO DAYS!
Now, most students would jump for celebratory joy upon hearing such news. As for me, I was in a bit of a panic. See, I had a college admissions essay due Wednesday. I had put it off and put it off, had begged my English teacher to give me a few pointers Monday morning when I would compose it on my classroom computer. But when I woke Monday morning, I got the news. No big deal, I thought; I’ll write it here at home and take it to my teacher Tuesday morning. Problem number one, my home computer wasn’t much help when my house lost power Monday afternoon. Problem number two, I found out Monday night there would be no school Tuesday either, which meant even if I could find a way to compose it, I would still have no way to have my teacher look over it for me and give me some advice. Needless to say I didn’t get much sleep Monday night, all I could think about was how in the world I could get my essay written and e-mailed to the admissions office in 24 hours.
Tuesday morning wasn’t much better. The power was still out when I woke, but then my wheels started turning. I was able to go to my neighbor’s house and beg a few hours use of their laptop…which fortunately had a fully charged battery. The muses were on my side as my essay seemed to flow freely from my brain to the computer screen. I had to proof it myself, though, thinking about my English teacher’s daily advice, “NEVER PUT ALL YOUR FAITH IN SPELL CHECK!” Sigh, at last it was done. I e-mailed it Wednesday morning when both power and the sunshine were restored.
Take my advice, when it comes to deadlines, anticipate the worst case scenario and then do everything you can to avoid it. The college’s server could crash and prevent all incoming e-mail from being received; you could take your application to the mailbox and realize your postman came early; your (ahem) cat could eat your homework; it could snow in June.
There are things that will happen in life that are out of our control. Don’t wait till the last minute, the stress is just not worth it.
Better go look at my planner for next month...no more procrastination for me!
Woof,
Clyde
