The seven stages of pulling an all-nighter
1 min read

The seven stages of pulling an all-nighter

Malachi Petersen0

1. Optimism

You can do this! You’ve stayed up late before. You can and will get this paper done.

determination

 

2. Procrastination

You’ve got more than enough time to get everything done. Checking Twitter and Facebook one more time isn’t going to kill you.

procrastination

 

3. The wall

You’ve been staring at your computer screen for almost an hour. You’re only on page two and you have already run out of new ideas to write about. What now?

the wall

 

4. Panic

There’s no way this paper is getting done. You should probably just save yourself the humiliation and drop out of school. Who needs a job anyway?

Panic

 

5. Resignation

You’re so sleep deprived that you start nodding off in between paragraphs. How many hours of sleep does a human body need to function, anyway?

giving up

 

6. The second wind

You’re nearing the end! The race to get done before the sun rises is on. If you finish soon you might still be able to get a couple of hours of sleep.

the second wind

 

7. Relief

It only took you the entire night to finish it, but you have a paper you can be proud of — maybe? Now you just have to get through a long day of classes.

relief

Malachi Petersen is a graduate student at the University of South Dakota getting his master's degree in public administration. He received his bachelor's degree in May of 2017 from USD, majoring in political science and journalism. Malachi worked at The Volante from August 2013 to January 2017 in various capacities, including as the 2016 editor-in-chief, before leaving the editorial side of the publication to run for Student Government Association to represent the graduate school. He's worked as an intern at the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company in Vermillion, SD; the Bemidji Pioneer in Bemidji, MN; Argus Leader Media in Sioux Falls, SD; the San Antonio Express-News in San Antonio, TX, and as a freelance writer for the Sioux Falls Business Journal. His articles have been published by multiple news organizations across the United States, including The Associated Press and USA Today. Malachi is from Lawton, IA.
Website http://www.malachipetersen.com

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