Experiencing Princeton post-thesis

In the past two weeks, I have become privy to a serious secret withheld from the undergraduate Princeton community until their time on campus in nearly gone: There is a Princeton without work. In the 14-some-odd days that have passed since the goldstamping and binding of my thesis, I have moved into a new realm of college life, a life in which Type-A students once again wander aimlessly in packs strangely resembling their arrival to campus nearly four years ago, minus the orientation packets.

Without a single thing on their checklists, and with finals and comprehensive exams delusionally far away on their meticulously organized schedules, seniors migrate mindlessly towards the quads and eating clubs, crossing the once-delicate bicker/sign-in lines in pursuit of Colonial's front lawn and games and Cottage's sound system and lounge chairs. Flashing back to the days of Early Admission, these seniors sit around, waiting for little more than graduation, and fervently praying for a long May and a decent post-graduation job market. In the meantime, they express their creative drives in other outlets.

Enter Slocce, the newest game to hit Prospect, a combination of the historically noble game of Bocce and the wet and wild adventure of the middle school Slip and Slide — and the best thing to come out of Cottage since John McPhee '53. Slocce's danger stretches beyond the cuts and bruises of the rocky Cottage backyard and the pint-sized length of the tarp by introducing the idea of hurling one's self along said tarp with large solid sphere precariously balanced in inebriated hand.

The post-thesis expanse includes more traditional sports as well, likely reflecting the six-plus months of lethargy preceding the culmination of due dates spent nearly entirely in Firestone, eating clubs and bed. Well, "more traditional" for Princeton. Instead of the standard games found in the front yards of most of collegiate America — such as football and Frisbee — the backyards of Cloister and Quad are dotted with badminton nets, wiffle ball bats and enough croquet wickets to snap the ankle of every unsuspecting athlete that wanders on Cap's back lawn.

For those of whom six months of seeing daylight only at the end of a major editing push nearly finished off, the lawns' open spaces invite the daydreamers, nappers and still-hung over seniors delicately strewn on blankets and beach towels, somewhat coated with sunscreen and with nary a book in sight. Reading, it seems, finished with the last bibliographic note and will remain a lost passion until exams begin to creep into the foreground of conscious thought. Until then, the deepest analysis necessary on the front lawn of Colonial stems from Cosmo and the opening days of baseball season. No activity, or coherent response, necessary.

The sneaky part is, where days once full of four classes, independent work, student group activities, varsity practices and club responsibilities left off, afternoons of lackadaisical freedom exist in which no Type-A senior can pull himself or herself together long enough to formulate a proper precept response paper or Prince column. Somehow, days fill completely with tanning, CVS runs and, well, sitting. I thought about going to the mall today, but then realized I had a meeting at 4:30, and somehow there just wasn't time to do it all.

My advice to you, dear underclassmen, is twofold. In light of my thesis experience, I would first encourage you to flock to the quads of Rocky and Wilson and spend as many of your waking hours drenched in the sunlight and sand on the volleyball courts and side lawns. Get out of Firestone, J-Street and your room. Enjoy yourself now because, JP or no JP, a time will come when you are literally unable to finish a chapter, draft, revision, or edits in one sitting.

For the second part, once you do finally get up from that home stretch and turn in your own thesis, spend your time wisely, allocating minutes, and hours, delicately between tanning and talking with friends. West College says the thesis is the quintessentially Princeton experience, but, to be honest, while the thesis is a necessary evil to complete, and even enjoy, the true Princeton experiences are the afternoons of relaxed conversations, the two-hour dinners and watching the sunset over one last game of Slocce. Enjoy it. Ashley Johnson is an English major from Florence, Ala. She can be reached at ajohnson@princeton.edu.