I read this article in our school's newspaper and found it quite appropriate.

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For years, The Daily Illini used to publish the following editorial on the first day of finals each semester.

And it came to pass.
Early in the morning toward the
last
day of the semester,
There arose a great multitude
smiting the books and wailing.
And there was much weeping and
Gnashing of teeth,
For the day of judgement was at hand
And they were sore afraid, for they
had left undone
Those things which they ought not to
have done,
And there was no help for it.
And there were many abiding in the dorms
Who had kept watch over their books
by night,
But it availed them naught.
But some there were who rose peacefully,
For they had prepared themselves the way
And made straight paths of knowledge.
And these were known
As wise burners of the midnight oil.
And to other they were known as
"curve raisers."
And the multitude arose
And ate a hearty breakfast.
And they came unto the appointed
place
And their hearts were heavy
And they had come to pass,
But some of them
Repented of their riotous living and
bemoaned their fate,
But they had not a prayer.
And at the last hour there came
among them
One known as the instructor; and
they feared exceedingly.
He was of diabolical smile,
And he passed papers among them
and went his way.
And many and varied
Were the answers given,
For some of his teaching has
fallen among fertile minds.
Others had fallen among the fallows,
While other had fallen flat.
And some there were who wrote for
one hour,
Others for two,
But some turned away sorrowful,
and many of these
Offered a little bull
In hopes of pacifying the instructor
And these were the ones who had
not a prayer.
And when they finished,
They gathered up their belongings
And went their way quietly, each in
his own direction,
And each vowing unto himself in
this manner: "I shall not pass this way again."


Daily Illini