Saturday, December 13, 2008

Deadlines are a blessing

...and don't let anyone tell you different. Yes, there might be scramblng involved--in fact, for me at least, there always is. It makes no difference how long I've researched a paper, or how many different version are saved to my my various emails, flashdrives and university drives. A deadline offers a sense of completion, and of accomplishment. Maybe the paper sucks--always a possibility--but at least you know that it's over.


Wiggly, watery deadlines, on the other hand, can only offer a sense of nagging doubt and regret. Like the one that's eating the lining of my stomach as we speak. Grr. Paper-that-must-not-be-named had great potential, and it also had the potential to be turned in on Monday...but ah me, what's done is done.


I think this speaks to a deep down distrust for professor's motives (I hope this isn't taken the wrong way). When the "meh, get it to me when you get it to me" line is tossed out there, I am immediately suspicious. Am I being tested? Is it really just a ruse to weed out the undisciplined students? Do I get kudos of any sort for turning it in on time, when the watery deadline has been proposed?


Y'see--the questions, they keep on comin. It's 8:30 on a Saturday, and I've been up for two hours (normal for some, but not so much for the Beeyotch).

Deadlines are merciful.

2 comments:

Dr. Virago said...

Knowing what prof you're likely talking about, I think it's because a) he'd rather have good work than rushed work, and b) he's prone to missing deadlines himself.

As for me, I'm a deadline Nazi. But you knew that.

Anonymous said...

Am I being tested? Is it really just a ruse to weed out the undisciplined students?

Uh, we've been weeded out already, heh. I am a living cautionary tale. They've probably got my face on a Stern Warning to the Kids poster over there in one of those offices. He said he'd get to it later. But will he?

But no, it's not a test; it's a compliment.