Organic Chemistry...

So I think I've realized why Organic Chemistry is exhausting.

It's not even the material, which so far, I understand. Just being in the class is mentally draining.

Everyone who needs to/will take O-Chem will have heard about at least once (if not infinitely many times) before even registering for the class. Because of this, everyone is completely psyched out about it and ends up entering the classroom a complete bundle of nerves. The reputation of O-Chem as being one of the major weeding-out classes for science majors and pre-med students isn't a lie, of course; however, everyone is so consciously/unconsciously freaked out about taking the class, that they're forcing their brains to pay absolute attention every single second of the class. Even if the professor digresses from the topic to dive into a lengthy, if unnecessary explanation, everyone is still diligently hanging on to every word. So, at the end of two hours, your brain is exhausted from going full-power without a break for so long.

I think my lab partner is one of those cut-throat people who will do everything to take advantage of your knowledge but never share what it is that they know. They either pretend that they don't know the material or they'll say "Oh, I finally get it," but then never say anything about it in explanation to you. I'm kind of scared, and now, on top of just O-Chem by itself, I can't let myself lose to anyone. Oh, the joy...