Oh, the horror!
It’s that time of year again. Haunted houses are being built, costumes are being designed, and scariest of all, right around the corner lurks… a midterm?
Oct. 31 may traditionally be a celebration of all things scary, but university students can one-up the autumn holiday. We spend eight months of the year braving the truly terrifying things in life—academically, financially, and socially. So in anticipation of the orange and black day of fun, I consulted my peers to find out what people may consider dressing up as if they really want to give people a fright.
Haunted housing
Finding a house decently close to campus that isn’t about to fall apart sounds simple, right? Right—until you remember the other factors you need to consider, like finding a group of friends with whom you can peacefully cohabitate, or finding a trustworthy and reliable landlord that provides reasonable rent and comfort, all while staying within a laughably small student budget. Now THAT is terrifying. Oh, and don’t forget to start early and avoid the spooky slim pickings available closer to the start of the semester!
OSAP ogres
If you’ve been walking to the buses after a long night at the library and felt something or someone following you, it was likely an OSAP ogre. These sneaky little guys will follow most of us around everywhere we go, for the entirety of our university careers. Just when you’ve been able to forget about them, you notice them looming over you, delighting in the torture they will bring until your very last cent is paid off. Hopefully you can be rid of them before your retirement.
Spooky speeches
Nothing says “Let’s combine the pressure of obtaining a good grade whilst simultaneously exposing yourself to the judgment of your peers” better than a good ol’ in-class presentation. Whether it’s 20 classmates or 200, for most students the very idea of public speaking causes knots to form in the stomach. The good news with this creepy chore is that: a) you can prevent some unfortunate outcomes by practicing ahead of time; b) you probably don’t sound as bad as you think you do; and c) your classmates likely aren’t judging you the way you think they are—they’re probably zoned out anyway. Phew!
Parental poltergeists
If you think the OSAP ogres are spooky, then you haven’t yet dealt with a parental poltergeist. These agile creatures are your friend 90 per cent of the time, supporting you and reminding you they love you no matter what. But for some, they can morph, burdening you with judgment (program choice), guilt (not calling or visiting home enough), and worst of all, pressure (grades). As students, we try our very best to balance family with school, work, and socializing, but sometimes things slide. And if there are any poltergeists out there listening, know this: we’re hard enough on ourselves. Please don’t make a bad grade worse by shaming us.
Procrastination zombies
It’s Sunday evening and you’re only on your fifth Netflix episode of the day. You feel relaxed as the Gilmore Girls theme song comes on, but have this suspicious nagging in the back of your mind. Suddenly you hear banging on your window and you bolt upright in horror—you have a quiz due in two hours and you haven’t even started Friday’s paper. Crap.
RIP romance
A moment of silence for the dead, such as our most recent relationship status. Whether you’re single and wishing for that special connection, bored and looking for fun, or unsure about your current relationship, Cupid can be tough. Third (or fifth) wheeling with the crew, losing your single friends on the dance floor, or facing questions about how you “could possibly be in your mid-twenties and not yet married” are just a few of the examples proving how you just can’t win in the world of love. Yikes.
Ghosts of grades past
Pretty self-explanatory, these devilish little things. You can’t escape them, nor alter them. They are permanent fixtures whether you like it or not, and it’s a shame that even the ones from that poor semester in first-year refuse to leave you alone. Worst of all, their future counterparts are waiting for you just around the corner.
After-grad goblins
Three words: Job. Market. Prospects. EEK!
Fear not though friends, for there is one thing we must not forget: we’re all in this together. Despite the plethora of demons we face in our pursuit of adulthood, we have thus far won every day. These challenges—and successes—will continue long after the last pumpkin has been carved.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Anthony CC BY 2.0