We're Having a Heat Wave

Much of the country is struggling with a heat wave lately, and that's turned my mind to autumn. That feeling of slight melancholy as the leaves blow down the streets, the odd sort of nostalgia that infuses the return to school, the interesting mix of excitement at a new school year and the knowledge that the calendar year is winding down -- it's no wonder that autumn is the favorite time of year for so many of us.

In juxtaposition to the anticipation of autumn, the heat also brings with it a sort of lethargy. August begins to feel interminable; the summer will surely go on forever, and school will remain a distant dream. These two visions mingle and clash with one another day after day until the reality of the semester is upon us, often long before those wished-for leaves fall from the trees.

How to manage the contradiction? Most of us go shopping for school supplies. Sounds crazy but you know you do it. We all do! Buying some fancy notebooks in the first week of August feels fabulous: you can take time to pick out the perfect notebook for each class and store the stack lovingly in your room because you don't have to use them yet. That's right! Everything fun about school without having to go to school. It's also fun to finalize class schedules, walk around campus (for those attending brick and mortar schools), and check out syllabi (if possible).

While you're at it -- while there are still pools to swim in and outdoor parties to attend -- prepare for school another way also. Make a list of probable challenges you will face in your different classes. For some, it will be economics, hands down, with its endless case studies (some of which contain math). For others, it will be English literature, with its endless essays and book reports. By making a list, you can alleviate some of the anxiety you are surely already feeling about these things and more completely enjoy the rest of the summer. You can also begin now to make plans to ease the difficulty of these challenges, such as finding out where tutoring services are, what academic writing company you will use, and other strategies for success.

And don't dawdle -- those leaves will be skittling across the road in no time.