Free periods
Over the past years I have come to dread registration day. It’s not because we have to start thinking about our futures, which I like to avoid as much as possible, but because then I have to think about both my parents wishes and my own when choosing next year’s courses.
Usually my problem is whether I should take chorus or not. Although I enjoy it immensely it isn’t a subject my parents care much about. They want me to do well in life and singing won’t help me with my career unless I decide to become a singer.
This year was a different story. The classes I chose would allow me to have a free period every other day, but my parents didn’t want that. To them having free periods only takes away from valuable time which could be spent in a classroom.
Even though I know my parents never had free periods when they went to school, I don’t think they realize what a free period does for Uni students. It’s a time in the middle of the day for us to unwind and get some work done in the process. I rarely spend my entire free period taking to friends. There might have been one or two this year during which I went out to eat with a group of people but that was because I didn’t have anything to do.
Free periods also allow me to do better in the classes I am taking. I can study for tests if I need to or do homework which didn’t get done last night because of a soccer game. I don’t even think they know that I usually work ahead on my homework. And sometimes it’s nice to just take a break. Even Uni students need down time, after all.
— Avanti Chajed