Everything I learned from taking my first (and only) 8:40 am this semester… it was quite the ride…..

This fall, I had the opportunity to have one of the truly formative experiences that most Columbia and Barnard students will experience at one point or another throughout their college years—the dreadful 8:40 am class. While I can’t sing enough praises of Elementary Spanish 2 or Professor Coronado, this early wake-up was not for the faint of heart. Even though my high school classes began at 8:40 am, each morning I woke up for this course, it felt a little too real. My alarm would go off at around 8:10 am and as I dragged myself from my bed, I would ask myself, “WHY, WHY, WHY Maren did you ever sign yourself up for this?” But, in the end, I didn’t just learn a ton of Spanish through my 8:40, but also all about myself and college, including a few lessons I’d like to share with all of you. 

Lessons: 

Each 8:40 morning is either the best time to be alive (or the worst) 

• Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this past semester, as I walked from Barnard to SIPA, I either felt pure elation or despair. Some days, as I blasted John Mayer into my headphones and strolled along College Walk, all I felt was pure gratitude and joy for going to school in the city. However, the other half of those days, all I could feel was my exhaustion and stress. These mornings were not as great as I trudged along the stone steps of campus, willing myself to wake up, I would just think about going back to bed. It was a 50/50 chance on my moods those nights, but you know, the good mornings were always worth it! 

You need a bev to get through class! 

• This, I cannot emphasize to you enough. If you have an 8:40, a little drink is essential. For me, that drink also had to be caffeinated. So, I would either get a to-go cold brew from John Jay or Ferris the night before class or I would take an iced coffee can I ordered from Amazon with me to each class. Without these drinks, I know I would have fallen asleep so fast in each class. So thank you, thank you, thank you coffee for keeping me awake and ready for Spanish every other morning (and almost everyone else in my class also had either a coffee or Celsius each am, so I know I am not alone in this sentiment)!

John Jay breakfasts will become your best friend 

• About halfway through the semester, I discovered the joys of a John Jay breakfast after class. Truly, this is what got me through each class, thinking about my scallion cream cheese bagel and strawberry yogurt I would fill my stomach with as soon as class ended. This routine set me up for success as I fully do not know what I would have done if I just skipped breakfast to go study. Having something to look forward to after class (and to be able to debrief with my fellow 8:40 warriors) each morning was honestly one of the highlights of my semester. 

Your bonds to your 8:40 friends will be some of the best 

• I made one of my closest friends here so far in the SIPA basement classroom in which my class was held. We first bonded over our exhaustion and the stresses of being a freshman in the big city, however, each morning after class, we would head to breakfast together and just chat. Sometimes, when he didn’t want the rest of his Pret or Starbucks iced coffee, he would generously donate it to me, sharing the caffeine for the better. Even though our class has ended and the semester is coming to an end, I know we will forever be bonded, all thanks to our 8:40. 

Skipping is addictive 

• I have to confess, I did only end up skipping the 8:40 once the whole semester (which I am quite proud of myself for)! However, that one time I did it over Halloweekend, the thrill was dangerous. For the rest of the semester, I felt the extreme urge to stay in bed and skip instead every single time my alarm went off. It took almost all my willpower to rise and head over to class. So, all I can say is that I learned that skipping is a slippery slope (especially that early in the morning and when my bed is so comfy). 

After this semester, I have learned that I will never EVER take an 8:40 again. I can’t say I’m glad I took the class that early in the morning, but I’m forever grateful for the experience and the friends I made along the way. And now, as the semester wraps up, I’m going to continue to love sleeping in and not having to haul my ass over to SIPA. 

Images via author and Bwog Archives