My ‘mid’ life crisis

By Sidra Rizvi

During the first semester around the month of February when everybody was just settling in, a bomb was dropped on us unsuspecting creatures. Mid terms. And that too in the first week of March. Surprisingly that was the only semester I remember in which we had a proper schedule for mid terms which got postponed a few times, of course, due to the cricket matches. But, every time that happened a new timetable for them was announced. The classes were off during this period, and we also had a mini spring break.

After that the mid term situation transformed into a tangled web of confusion. We were told that the dates for the mid terms will be announced by the teachers themselves and regular classes would take place as well.

Now the scheduling of the mids, our affection filled word for the mid terms, is entirely at the student’s disposal. Heated discussion lasting 15 to 20 minutes take place in which every date the teacher announces is whined over, refuted and finally discarded. Eventually the exhausted teacher takes matters into her/his own hands and gives a final verdict. Astonishingly all the students who previously had issues with the particular date, now are well prepared to have a mid that day.

The attitude towards the mid itself is gravely non serious. It is just a mid. Even if we don’t do well we can always give a make up (a retest). Speaking from personal experience, there are people who believe so religiously in neatness, they don’t write a single word on the paper. ‘There’s always a make up’ is their motto. I humbly ask the people whom I just quoted to forgive me.

However on the day of the mids, the class strength is incredible. People you didn’t even know were your classmates can be seen sitting right next to you, asking for help. Blatant cheating can be witnessed whereas idle chit-chat can be heard in the background as well.   While the mid terms themselves aren’t that blog worthy, some events that have taken place during them are instant classics.

Below are some of my favourite mid term moments:

1)      Urdu: The teacher brought along someone to help with the invigilation. I am not really proud of my Urdu handwriting but it’s still legible. Boldly I wrote my name and my father’s on top of the paper, and began making the Urdu teacher’s life miserable when the guest teacher came to me and said: ‘your father’s name is Sidra too?’ Apparently he couldn’t differentiate between Sayed and Sidra in my handwriting.

2)      Maths: ‘Sir I need another copy’, ‘no you will not get any more copies. You must be doing something wrong. Write in the empty spaces.’ ‘Sir what if you don’t understand what I have written?’ ‘Don’t worry, ill call you if that happens’. This conversation recently took place between a friend and the teacher during the mid term.

3)      Sociology: ‘I don’t remember anything. What shall I write in this paper?’ moaned a friend. Before I could answer, a total stranger sitting next to her said ‘Oh, you are welcome to take a peak from my copy.’

Mid-terms are simply a vision of generosity, entertainment and to some extent an assessment of where we stand. Therefore it is no wonder that nobody, well the majority, doesn’t bother studying for them.