"Ambitious, Devoted & Focused" .. umm

That's not me.

That's what I WANT to think I am, but who am I kidding? I'm a proud procrastinator.

In fact, over the years, I've been able to rationalize majority of my actions with the words "productive procrastination." And by this, I mean that I still do stuff, but it's not what I should be doing right now.  So if I have a English paper due on Monday, I'd start reading my science textbook up until 3pm on Sunday before  finally taking a crack at my essay. Reason? Productive procrastination.  ie. I'm doing something that needs to be done but now really isn't the time to do it.

Many years ago, one of my best friends told me this quote by Edward Young; "Procrastination is a thief of time." This is from a guy that lived in the late 1600s.  For all I know, Shakespeare could've been a procrastinator.  I would imagine that procrastination has plagued humans since we became a higher thinking being.  I can totally imagine the first Homo sapien telling himself, "Hmm, I'll kill that hog later."

Why do we do this?? As soon as my paper's done, I always make the same promise to myself.  Perhaps you've done that too.  It goes something like, "Never again will I leave ____ to the last minute" or "Starting today, no more _____ EVER." Worst new years resolutions ever.

Something that I've recently discovered is that not only is procrastination a social norm, it is also considered socially inclining to be an open procrastinator who gets good marks.  This was who I wanted to be for many years!  I wanted to play computer games, go shopping, blow fairy dust onto my test and not worry about my mark b/c during the test, my brain was able to barf up all the stuff I learned in class. Obviously. But this isn't how it works! Or at least, this isn't how MY brain works.

Today, I pour hours into my homework b/c I need to.  Most importantly, I KNOW I need to.  Although this sounds awful, I assure you, I still have a life.  Extra-curriculars and friends keep you sane.

For you procrastinators out there shaking your heads, I'll tell you now that I used to be one of you. And then I went on to pursue a higher education and became a full-time student.  Whenever people ask me for my occupation, I don't say "none," I say "student" b/c it's my job to strive for academic success.  As nerdy as it sounds, studying is my life now.  I still procrastinate from time to time, but I've accepted that being a student is my 9-5 job.

And now, I should really go finish up my chem lab (that's due tmrw).  It's ok, it's already half done :P