written by Darissa Townes, contributor
After going through the many drop menus of MySCAD, you’ve finally found that class you wanted to take next quarter. You’re exhilarated by all the good things you heard about the class and are looking forward to learning new things, but then your stomach sinks after you check the time of the class. Right next the coveted course’s name, 8-10:30 a.m.
One might describe 8 a.m. classes as 10 weeks of mandatory torture. They’re avoided like the plague and the students that take them are seen as warriors against time and sleep. While it might be possible for one to glide through the world of SCAD without taking a single early class, I’d like to reassure those students stuck with 8 a.m. classes that though the monster may be intimidating there are a few simple adjustments that can make the 10 weeks go by easier.
From my experience on the battlefield of early wake-up calls, the most difficult part of 8 a.m. classes is not waking up, but going to bed. If you’ve been at this school long enough, you know that going to bed before 1 a.m. is practically a fantasy. There are too many papers to write, canvases to paint, designs to composite and animations to rig. For 8 a.m. classes, getting enough sleep the night before can make or break how you handle the next day and how long you’ll stay awake. Learning how to turn off the computer or put down the paintbrush can be a difficult task if you’re prone to all-nighters. However, by crawling into bed before midnight, you’re boosting your chances for a better early-rise.
Perhaps one of the better advantages to 8 a.m. classes is the amount of time you have after class. Many students go back home to sleep again. Others might take advantage of the relatively empty school to snag a computer and work. For me, I take the time to do some homework, grab lunch and then try to get home by 2:30 p.m. while the majority of SCAD students are still in class. Of course, there are students who have multiple classes after 8 a.m. but that also ensures the possibility of having one less class the following day and that makes early classes worth it.
This isn’t to say that 8 a.m. classes are a cakewalk. As the quarter goes on, you may find it harder to go to bed early. Waking up may seem more of a miracle than a routine. You might end up missing a class one day and walk in late the next. Also, we can’t forget that these classes still have homework. Early classes are not easy beasts to tame, but they shouldn’t be something that one should tremble in fear over either. Just tighten up your armor and show that you’re not afraid.
