I am a chronic procrastinator. It doesn’t matter if it’s reading, papers, outlines, studying or whatever; I put it off until the absolute last minute most of the time. Thankfully my transcript doesn’t reflect that because, most of the time, I am able to pull things together in the last minute but the dark circles under my eyes and the third cup of coffee in my hand often betray me just the same. Maybe it is the thrill of staying up until all hours or the adrenaline rush as the clock ticks closer to my deadline, but it is just like the Facebook group “I can’t do my homework unless it is due tomorrow.” Right on.

There are plenty of reasons for why I can’t do my work in a timelier manner. For one, I know I’m not the only undergrad who has to hold down at least a part time job to make it financially through school. But, I know I am fortunate because I don’t have to work full time. For those of you working full time jobs and still dragging yourselves to class, I salute you.

I have to admit, it isn’t always the job. Our generation has been raised in an over stimulated world. We’ve got hundreds of television channels, music always at our fingertips, the internet that is available everywhere and holds millions of distractions. And at college we are surrounded by things to do and friends to do them with. It is difficult to see where class and class work fit into the equation.

Just because my grades haven’t necessarily suffered yet doesn’t that mean the crime of procrastination is victimless.

Who loses when you stay up frantically clicking on your keyboard as you work on that report worth 20 percent of your grade until four in the morning? Your roommate, who got their homework done hours ago and now you are keeping awake.

Who suffers when you sleep through your alarm because you were up late cramming? Your employer and coworkers that you left to handle the morning shift, short one.

Who feels it when you turn in yet another sloppy, error-filled piece of work that deserved much more attention and care considering you’ve known about it since the beginning of the semester? Your professors, who were trying to help you by giving you so much time to prepare. But you know who loses out most when you insist on spending minimal time on everything? You and I.

I lose out because the assignment wasn’t about producing a paper. It was about applying and retaining knowledge pertinent to my future. I miss out because the test wasn’t about torturing me twice a semester. It was to make sure I was picking up the information I would need to be successful in my career. I lose out because if I had three more hours to spend on every paper I’ve ever turned in or studying for every exam I’ve ever had, they could have been 100 percent better. I lose out because the work wasn’t my best.

If all of us would devote the same amount of time to school work and studying as we do to Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and working during the school year, just think of all the state-of-the-art buildings the engineering majors could have built, all the advances in agriculture the agriculture majors could have made, all the students the education majors could have inspired and all the professors that would be able to retire as happy people.