Back to School

Syllabus day. Books are cracked open for the first(and potentially last) time by students eager at the thought of their own gratification. The intellectual curiosity is at its peak in the first few days of roll call and administrative set up. Questions seem easy and open-ended, lacking the "wrong answer" that frightens away participation by even the most audacious of students. The motivated souls sit with pens raised at paper; fingers hoovering over keys. The distraction techniques of later courses have yet to spill onto the screens of the relatively well-slept individuals. 
There is an anticipation that can only be derived from a lack of awareness of what is to come -the impending, the inevitable. Fresher faced and more fancy free than these students have found themselves in recent weeks, they await the instruction with (almost) baited breath at the thought of successful completion. Yet to submit to the stresses of balancing activities, prioritizing actions and commitments, they remain hopeful that their capacity to try will see them through. And it does, often enough - though not necessarily with the all goals and promises made still intact. But who among us can honestly say they have remained untouched, remained poised above the masses with the omnipotence of the most crazed curve-killer? 

Set phasers to stun, it's another semester.