Procrastination: vb the art of putting off ones tasks, until one can be bothered getting off their sorry butts and doing them at the very last minute possible.

 Otherwise known as the American lifestyle. No, I’m kidding. Let’s not rag on the Americans. I’m sure you do a lot, Mr Bush. Anyhow, my topic isn’t American politics, its procrastination. This is pretty much a part of everybody’s lives, some more so than others. Procrastination will usually affect us in places where it has fairly severe repercussions, oh like say, doing an article for the school newspaper the night before it’s due.

It is funny how procrastination affects us. It’s amazing how distractions look so appealing, when you have something important to do. It must be human nature; straying away from commitment of any kind. Why, even I may find myself succumb to this incurable disease. While writing this very ‘rant’, I found myself playing a rather thrilling game of Scrabble, with myself. It’s a true story people. Take it from me, when something is in need of doing, everything will get in the way. Whilst desperately trying to gather help for my rant, I found that trying to get help from my friends was actually a rather severe distraction - thanks a lot guys. Take it from me, the night before something important is due, avoid friends at all costs.

 Everything wrong in this world was caused by a procrastinator. It’s true. Mistakes were made by people that left things to the last minute. Behind every fault, is a procrastinator. Take the Leaning Tower of Pisa for example. “Whoa, hold on there ‘hoss,” I hear you say to me, “the Leaning Tower of Pisa was caused by lack of funds, so the people of the town built the tower level by level, causing the tower to tilt.” But that is where you are wrong my friend. The guy in charge of the foundation work, he left it till the last minute. This is the real reason the tower is tilted. He is yet to correct his mistake.

Let’s face it though. Sometimes, it’s not your fault that you are procrastinating. It could be prior obligations, sport matches, work. It’s not your fault you have somewhere to be. Maybe play some Xbox? Hey, its not your fault that racing nitro powered funny cars is a lot more fun than say, writing rants for the school newspaper.

Perhaps it’s just your own sheer idiocy that you are putting something so important off. We don’t know.

So here’s a secret. This rant you are reading right now. It was done the night before printing. I find myself staring at the clock, 11:30 and it still isn’t finished. Procrastinators will do anything if it means they don’t have to do what they are meant to. To tell you the honest truth, I had ditched this important obligation for another solitary game of Scrabble. It wasn’t even until I felt the duty to finish the game, when I put it off and started on the rant. As for finishing this rant, I think I will do it tomorrow. 

- Julian Tang