The Murray State News

Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: College Life

Media Credit: Misty Hays Shavonne Burnett, sophomore from Murray is mesmerized by the "spring bug" like many other students.

The fact you are still peeling from a Spring Break sunburn doesn't stop the plethora of papers and projects from piling up as the semester comes to a close.
When the weather gets warmer, students seem to fall into a slump as if they were still on vacation.
Whitney Bush, senior from Winchester, Ky., said many students feel pressured when they return from the break.
"I feel like everyone is trying to get all their assignments in at the last minute after Spring Break," Bush said. "For me, I don't think that there is actually more work after the break, but I do know a lot of people who struggle to stay focused."
If you have skipped more classes than you have attended in the past two weeks, chances are you are in this slump. With only six weeks of school remaining, that lingering little taste of sand and sun could be causing a drop in class attendance.
Aimee Guelda, senior from Louisville, Ky., said for some students, the work really does pile up, and some skip classes after the relaxing week.
"When I got back from Spring Break, I had three tests and a paper all due that next week," Guelda said. "Honestly, most students are gone this whole week and don't get back to Murray until Sunday. This gives them little or no time to switch gears from doing absolutely nothing to doing school work again."
Guelda said she thinks all students sometimes feel this way.
"I think there may be a happy medium of students who feel all caught up when they get back," Guelda said. "But for the most part, freshmen to seniors fall a little behind at this time in the year."
Bob Lochte, chair of journalism and mass communications, said via e-mail the decline in attendance is not directly related to Spring Break.
"There is a decline in attendance after mid-terms in the fall semester, too," Lochte said. "I'm not sure spring is worse."
As for the majority of assignments being due after the break, Lochte said there is a reason.
"Any good class should be a cumulative learning experience," Lochte said. "I expect my students to know more by the end of the semester and be able to prove it. So the assignments and exams at the end are more comprehensive. Spring semester at Murray State also ends earlier than at many other schools. April really is crunch time for everybody."
Lack of motivation seems to play a key role in the "spring bug" which causes students to lag behind. Pressure to get things done on a deadline can solve this problem with limited stress Lochte said.
"I think students are just really busy and stressed by their schedules," Lochte said. "But stress is not all bad. When I'm under pressure, I pay more attention to what I'm doing."
Ashley Henson can be reached at ashley.henson
@murraystate.edu.

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