The following blog post was written by peer advisor Richie Beck, a SEAS sophomore on the pre-med track studying biomedical engineering. To learn more about Richie, see his full bio here.
A 10 page paper is easy. Five pages single spaced, use a bunch of block quotes, restate that wonderful work of art that is your thesis about 30 times, and make lots and lots of paragraphs. Simple, done and easy. But 20 pages is a whole different monster.
What your second semester of Origins does is give you a research paper on a 20th Century topic that you think you’re an expert at. Little do you know that the papers you read – when you begin your research at a max of two weeks prior – just blow all your novice ideas out of the water.
Your professor gives you practically the entire semester to work on and with your early semester positivity, you give yourself this plan that will make this 20 page paper an achievable feat. In hindsight that first plan is always the best.
With two weeks to go before my paper was due, I began my research and I was on this philosophy high that could only resonate with fellow Honors kids. I had my preliminary research done so I gave myself a break because it was just smooth sailing. That break turned into a week of not doing anything and procrastinating until everyone else in the class was finishing their papers and I hadn’t even written a single, coherent sentence. With a few days left, and no confidence in my abilities at all.
Each day was longer and longer and my progress wasn’t what I had planned. I was getting worried. I accepted the fact that I had to pull an all-nighter in order to finish this paper. This is something I would never recommend. Gelman at 4 AM is indescribable and with your delirium at its peak, you are reflecting on the poorest of your choices and anxious about the work you are supposed to be doing.
Walking out of Gelman that morning was a big hit to the ole self esteem, but I felt accomplished after finishing that paper.
Handing that paper in was the greatest feeling I had at GW because that was my blood, sweat and so many tears into one long paper. It made me truly understand the need for time management and putting in your 100% from day 1 of the semester.
I got a 94 on that paper and yes it went on my fridge.
