These past few weeks, I’ve been dragging myself to class (10 minutes late) and making little to no effort on my hair, makeup and, let’s face it, wardrobe.

With a couple weeks to go, that smile and glimmer in my eye that I had as I sat in the front of all my classes has slowly turned into an uncontrollable, irreversible glaze.

These things, combined with the incriminating evidence of sliding down in my chair and falling asleep as I am lectured on the geological time scale, are all tale-tale signs of one thing: exhaustion.

After three-and-a-half years of hard work, all I can think about is sleep, house shoes and being able to curl up in front of my television watching two of my favorite movies, “Pretty Woman” and “Mean Girls.”

All I want is more entertainment, less thinking, less brain- hurting education.

I know that’s what we’re all here for, but I’m tired. Aren’t you?

I need a break. Thanksgiving doesn’t count. Listening to your extended family talk about people you’ve never heard of while your little cousins fight over who’s better at “Guitar Hero” definitely doesn’t count.

That’s why I’m looking forward to next Friday, when I can take that time to clear my mind and refresh myself. I can prepare for my finals without worrying about falling asleep in the middle of reading about public relations. But, oh wait, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Because for some crazy reason, we don’t have our study day on Friday. I will be in class one more time – falling asleep and not paying attention anyway, just like the rest of you.

I know we’ve already complained about the loss of our study in the Herald, but hey, I want it back.

No one can tell me that day will be productive. Everyone will be hung over or have their mind on something else anyway. I always looked forward to that Friday.

No. Instead, I will be getting up bright and early, trekking my way to class, saying “hi” to the five people that decide to show up, go to work, go to bed early and work at 6:45 a.m. the next day … and continue the same stress-filled schedule for one more week, uninterrupted.

I can’t be the only one that feels this way.

I’ll go ahead and say it for myself and the rest of the student population: thanks, to the powers that be. We’re all looking forward to it.

So, if you aren’t like me and don’t have to work that weekend while also having two finals Monday, my suggestion is this: enjoy that Saturday before.

Enjoy it as if it were that Friday, with Julia singing some Prince, and Lindsay dancing to “Jingle Bell Rock” on your TV.

Don’t let the man get you down. But please remember, if you are like me, with a full work schedule and a series of finals at the beginning of the week, suck it up. We’ll just have to celebrate a little later this year.

Reach Heather Ryan at diversions@chherald.com.