Studying in the Hidden Place

It's the end of April, the end of "dead week, and the beginning of the last week of finals that I'll ever take.  Just before walking out of my apartment, books and computer packed into my bag with a huge Purina water bottle attached, I stepped back inside the apartment.  The hallway of my apartment building was cold, which usually directly correlates to the temperature outside.  It's the end of April, and yet, I'm still putting on my winter coat. Grumbling under my  breath about the temperature and my current level of near-exhaustion, I tried to stay positive.  By this time next week, it'll all be over.

Entering the college, I passed my roommate in the hallway, just as she was leaving.  We chatted for a bit, and exchanged quick good-byes.  I got the key from the envelope in her mailbox, and walked down the stairs.  A group of us have procured a conference room deep within the interlocking squares of the basement of the vet school.  I walked down the stairs, past the immortalized head of "Bud" (a former rumen contents donator steer), past the couches reminiscent of the 70s, around the corner, passing the far wall of the gross anatomy lab, past the showcase of anatomical oddities and examples, around another corner by a couple large refrigerators...are you lost yet?  Even though it had been a long time since I'd been in that part of the building, I still knew my way around.  I finally arrived in front of the yellow door, and opening it, I was surprisingly pleased to find the room to be warm, and empty.

I settled in to a chair, spreading my books and notes out on a table.  I scrolled through the album list on my iPod, and picked some ambient music by Moby to study to for a little while.  And there I sat, for the better part of five hours, in a room where cell phone reception is just about non-existent, and wireless internet connectivity is just as touch-and-go.  It's all for the best, though.  The less distraction I have in my hidden space, the better for doing well on my finals.  And I'll spend most of the weekend in that hidden place in the vet school.  All around me, there will be people in the building, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the college.  With any luck, our little room will remain quite hidden and quiet.

Even during the most stressful weekend of the semester, there's got to be time for a break.  Thanks to some love from home, my roommate and I will share a pizza this weekend.  The 'rents sent pizza gift certificates inside a card.  That's a smart care package!  Kudos to the 'rents. 

And now, it's time for some sleep.  58 hours and counting until the first final exam...