The last time high school students lunged for books, the internet was dial-up. Yet twice a week, the Library is the hottest, most exclusive place on earth. A seat in the Library seminar is akin to pure gold – desired by all, attainable to only a select few. But despite its enamored allure, the Library seminar isn’t paradise on Earth. Instead it is overhyped – excessively desired for no apparent reason.
Securing a spot on the Library roster has become as elusive as a Black Friday blockbuster. Five days before the first seminar bells ring, hopefuls already patrol their screens – waiting for the exact moment to acquire their ticket into “higher society.” Even then, a seat isn’t guaranteed. Within minutes, all 50 seats are gone.
But despite the immense demand, once seminar actually arrives, the allure fades. The library is nothing more than that – a library, lavish desks and all. In the first minutes, one question is inevitable: “this is it?” After all, such toil endured to gain entry deserves a show-stopping experience in return. But, there is no magic. At its very core, the Library is merely another room to drown out. By page six or question four, the surrounding space fades into the horizons of focus. By question nine, anything outside is forgotten.
Does the environment induce study? To some, perhaps. But the cold, tense silence is also no ideal place to work. Unlike the teacher’s classroom that is warmed by soft, relaxed voices, the Library is barren. Inside, students stressfully cram for their imminent exams, radiating a storm of collective anxiety.
That’s not to say that Library seminars should be abandoned. Every student learns differently, and inherently, every student studies differently as well. But don’t let the hype take control. Library seminar is no utopia as its desirability and exclusivity may suggest. It’s ordinary – no more, no less.
