Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/112

 Procrastination is the bane of the intellectual lives of most students. They falsely argue that it does not matter if they get behind a little; there is always plenty of time in the future. The only time one can safely count on is today, and that is the reason why, in the midst of a very enjoyable vacation, I have stopped long enough to finish this article which I have promised for next week. I know that I have the time today, and experience has taught me that in all probability I shall not have it next week when I get back to the regular duties of my office.

"Are your themes all in?" I asked a freshman whose adviser I am.

"I think so," he replied, "at least I am not back more than four or five." He did not see that lacking the four or five he would probably fail the course, and that having them in he might pass with a creditable grade, nor did he realize either that if he came to the end of the half year lacking a good percentage of his work, it would be entirely impossible for him to make it up. It is a safe rule never to get behind, for in that case one is always ready for an unexpected emergency. The freshman, boy-like, too often takes his pleasure first and promises himself that he will find plenty of time after he is through with the show or the game or the dance to get up the neglected work.