The college all-nighter is a right of passage for most students. There will be one paper forgotten about only to be done just before deadline. A test that studying for had to be put off until the last minute for one reason or another.
Every student inevitably pulls the all-nighter. Staying up until the crack of dawn, banging away on the keyboarding trying to hammer out the last minute details to a paper long forgotten. Searching for last minute details to add for spice. It is this night that the student finds strength to graduate.
The student discovers that it can be done. There is light at the end of the tunnel and as long as they don’t procrastinate every assignment, one can come in last. One has to come in last. Which one is the question?
Some students pull more all-nighters than others, if they are habitual procrastinators. Some students may prefer the all-nighter. It is quieter or they think better when wired on coffee and energy drinks.
Some students will only attempt the feat once recognizing the futility of the all-nighter. Eventually the all-nighter turns into all-day. The student cannot sleep once the night is concluded. They still have class to attend.
Doing the work all-night is only half the battle. Surviving the day to submit the work means mission accomplished. Coffee and energy again rescue the tired pupil. They wane to display and keep their eyes open. Slogging from one class to another.
Every person on campus recognizes the all-nighter. They have red-eyes and dark bags under them. They bump into people when zombie walking the halls. They turn their work in and immediately leave class or sleep in the back.
These are the people trying to graduate. These are the students that have experienced college in all its wonders and pains. To live and celebrate life one must sacrifice and so many times the student chooses sleep to lose.
American Dream: Overland Expedition 