Whether you volunteered for 8am or stuck with one, these classes aren’t as bad as you think.
One of the most dreaded weeks of the semester is officially over: spring course registration. Maybe you got lucky and got all the best options. You may still be trying to find courses that fit your schedule while waiting to get off the waitlist. 8am classes were probably at the bottom of your list. I’m here to tell you that you should move them up.
The 8 a.m. classes may be the only option open to students who register late on Friday, November 18, and many will tell you to avoid them at all costs. But they are not the worst choice. These activities benefit you more than you think.
Mornings are what make going to college in New York so special. The city is usually busy, but the morning streets are quiet and relatively empty. There are fewer people roaming the sidewalks at 7 a.m., making your walk to class more relaxing. Not to mention, if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the sunrise between the buildings as you walk.
CAS junior Inkery Lipasti thinks the 8 a.m. classes are underrated because most people don’t realize how good a commute can be.
“I always walk to campus, and it’s a lot calmer to cross the streets when there’s almost no traffic,” Lipasti said. “Even Washington Square Park is filled with quiet calm at 7:30 when I walk past it, just a few joggers here and there.”
Students who study at 8 a.m. are more likely to finish their last class earlier. This gives you more time during the day for other activities such as clubs, athletics and recreation. If you take back-to-back classes, you can completely finish the day after 10:45. What could be better than that?
LS freshman Elizabeth Lira said the 8 a.m. classes are exceptionally motivating.
“The hardest part of my day is starting the day — trying to figure out what I want to do with my time, what I need to do and get it done,” Lira said. “8 o’clock in the morning makes a difficult choice for me. I can get out of class without the bleak prospect of a 4:55 class looming over my day.”
If you manage your time properly, an 8 a.m. class can make you more productive. For example, if you like to work out, you can get to the Palladium Athletic Complex by 6:30 a.m., work out for an hour, shower, and be fully awake by 8 a.m. They can also get you out of the habit of lugging everything around. stay overnight and sleep. Working out early makes you go to bed early, which boosts your overall productivity.
Gallatin freshman Dan Lubarski organizes his schedule around 8 a.m. to be more productive.
“The later I get out of bed, the more I tend to procrastinate,” Lubarsky said. “I like waking up early because it makes me enjoy each day more and affects my mentality about the amount of time I have to do work in a positive way.”
Early morning classes will set a productive tone for your day, and in the long run, it’s the perfect way to prepare for life after graduation. Even if you’re not currently enrolled in an 8 a.m. class, you’ll probably need to adjust your schedule to accommodate work, graduate school, or any other responsibilities that require you to get up early. You are actually helping yourself in the future.
Your 8am is not happy – accept it. Even if you’re not a morning person, the 8 a.m. classes are worth the time and energy you put in each morning.
The Opinion section of WSN aims to publish ideas worthy of discussion. The opinions presented in the Opinion section are solely those of the writer.
Contact Molly Koch at [email protected]
