So Here I Am

I was instructed by my newspaper advisor to write a column about a month ago. Until now, I had neglected to do so on the basis of lack of an idea. I kept thinking back to the Movie “Marley and me” and how the newspaper columnist used the antics of his dog to write a popular, philosophical column, and found that I kept comparing myself to a writer who had years of experience in both writing columns and in life. I suppose this was my first mistake.  

So, I went back to my advisor for advice, and she told me to write a rant about something to make it easier on myself. When I tried thinking about the numerous things that give me the inclination to rant I found myself once again coming up blank. The only thing that came to mind was my dislike of military recruiters. But because I am a staff officer for JROTC (Ironically part of my job is to be the one who communicates with recruiters from every branch), and the sort of scary man who is my boss… I decided that my only idea was safer left unwritten. Now I find myself here the night before I absolutely, positively, undeniably, must have it turned in by tomorrow and I’m smacking my head for not simply thinking harder earlier so I wasn’t in this position… and it dawns on me. This is my “Marley and Me” column; where I am both dog and writer. My experiences have allowed me to detail to you the pains and sufferings that are accompanied by procrastination. Here I am, after an exhausting 15-hour day, dying to go to bed, still have other homework to do, am required to wake up at 5:30 tomorrow morning to teach snobby freshman how to march when it’s honestly not that difficult, knowing I have to go to school until 8:30 tomorrow and will have to stay up late again to finish the future masses of homework I am sure to receive tomorrow. Not to mention that my mom has threatened to make me stay home this weekend until I have my other missing assignments done instead of hanging out with my totally awesome, sweet boyfriend who is set to leave for Navy Basic Training very soon… And  I find myself staring at the wall, as my eyes are closing of their own accord, asking, “Why? Why have I done this to myself?”   

The moral of the story is, readers, do not procrastinate on things you cannot get out of. Just do them. Just get the things you can out of the way when you can instead of doing pointless things like using a study hall as a social call that you can’t even remember what was discussed in. Just get it done, and don’t find yourself in a position like me.