# The - I Haven't Been to Class All Semester - Dream **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210 "2003-08-28T15:39:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/21 "2003-08-29T05:23:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by luvtinayothers \* > \*\*I have this dream all the time…I hate it! Another similar dream > is that I’m back in high school and it’s time for class but I can’t > remember the combination to my locker and I stand there trying > to remember while everyone else goes to class. Weird. \*\* Yep, I have the “didn’t attend class” and “can’t remember my locker combination” dreams, too. Other similar dreams: - First day of school and I can’t find either my class list or the list telling me where the classrooms are located - Have to pack for a trip but can’t find my suitcases - Need to catch a plane, but can’t find where my car is parked - I’m leaving for a business trip in 5 minutes and for some reason haven’t begun to pack yet And yes, it sure feels good when you wake up and realize it was just a dream… ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/22 "2003-08-29T05:53:28Z")
It is sort of comforting to know that other people have this too. I have these dreams far too often for my liking, and it is YEARS since I ever darkened the door of a school or university. And, like bRedDawg\*\* I often find I am reading a book in my dream and it is SO annoying when I wake up and cannot go on reading the wonderful, but sadly non-existent book. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/23 "2003-08-29T05:55:05Z")
I just finished Tom Robbins’ latest book “Villa Incognito” One of the main characters wakes up one morning, very happy… He droppped out of Dream School. Instead of going through the nightmare, in his dream, he turned and walked out the front door. Directed dreaming, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/24 "2003-08-29T10:48:20Z")
I have a question: Has this happened to anyone who didn’t care about classes at all? I personally did care about my classes (when I had them), and would check the exam schedule at least 3 times checking the dates. I have had the “day of the final and I didn’t even know I was signed up” dream, which I can’t help but think was related to my paranoia. I imagine **Celyn** and **RedDawgEsq** really like reading; on an only slightly related note, I enjoy fixing hardware (some people discard the coolest things 'cause of one bad wire). I used to have this really annoying dream where I ended up with piles of scrounged treasure, only to have it vaporize upon waking. Can’t say I’ve had the popular “at work and I’m naked” dream… but then I don’t really care about my wardrobe. Is anyone with this particular dream recurring on them a slave to fashion? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/25 "2003-08-29T11:33:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by syncrolecyne \* > \*\* > > My recurring nightmares included: > > “Naked School Day”; 7-12 years old. > “Where’s My Penis?”: 12-15 years old. > “The Lost Class” 15-25 years old. > \*\* Ah yes, which of us can honestly say they’ve never had the ever popular “Where’s My Penis?” dream…? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/26 "2003-08-29T13:12:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hammos1 \* > \*\*Ah yes, which of us can honestly say they’ve never had the ever popular “Where’s My Penis?” dream…? :dubious: \*\* I believe about half the population!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/27 "2003-08-29T13:16:16Z")
Not going to call all semester? That wasn’t a dream, it was reality. The classes were of the basic intro sort (Basic Programming, Macro-Econ) and I already knew that stuff so I didn’t bother to show up. I get the sexual frustrating dream occasionally. You know, where you’re minding your own business and a hot woman (or man, for the ladies) starts hitting on you and wanting to go to a more intimate place. Just when you get to start having an “encounter” with her, you wake up. Man I hate that dream. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/28 "2003-08-29T13:24:06Z")
Isn’t it amazing how much we all must hate ourselves? Because that seems the common theme to these dreams: I am an idiot! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/29 "2003-08-29T13:33:49Z")
I have a similar dream but instead of not being prepared for an exam it’s that I arrive on the last day of class after not being there the entire semester and the big term paper/report/project is due and I have nothing to turn in. And yes I never can seem to remember my locker combination (hell, its been 15 years!) ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/30 "2003-08-29T13:41:57Z")
I also still have the “I forgot to drop the class, but if I learn all the material tonight and get an A on the final tomorrow, I can still pass” dream. I also have a variant where it is discovered that I never passed HS government (not true in waking life, but it’s always the same class for some reason), and they’re going to take away my HS diploma, which means they’re going to take away my BS, which means they’re going to take away my PhD. I can prevent all this by moving in with my parents and retaking government, except that I can’t seem to get myself to wake up early enough in the mornings to actually get to class. ---
**Author:** ![isthatsowrong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/35a633/32.png) [@isthatsowrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isthatsowrong)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/31 "2003-08-29T13:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmackFu \* > \*\*The best part about having this dream after you have graduated is waking up and then realizing you never have to take a final exam again. \*\* In my version of the dream I find myself (the current version of myself, not my college-aged self) back in college, seemingly needing to pass one more class in order to graduate because someone had figured out that I never really graudated all those years ago. In the beginning, I’m dismayed and all seems hopeless. But soon I realize (while still dreaming) that I did in fact graduate and I don’t really need to be there. So I get up and leave. It’s always such a relief. Does anyone have the one where you can lift yourself a few inches off the ground and float around? That one’s a bummer because I wake up thinking, “There’s no reason why I can’t do that in real life.” Then I can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/32 "2003-08-29T13:55:50Z")
I’ve had most of the above dreams. And another one in addition–in which I’m just walking around, and suddenly, people around me are like, “come on, it’s time!” and all of a sudden, I’m in a play. I vaguely remember at that moment having agreed to be in a play, but I completely neglected to go to any rehearsals. I have no idea what the lines are or what anyone else is even talking about. But there are two versions of the dream–one where just a bunch of frustrating stuff happens, and rarely, I have one where everything goes miraculously right! (But I still don’t feel too good about it.) -Kris ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/33 "2003-08-29T14:38:15Z")
The OP’s dream reflects anxiety about being unprepared or being judged for not following a route that others expect him/her to take. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/34 "2003-08-29T15:07:21Z")
I’ve had dreams where I find myself back in school and the people there are a combination of people that I attended with at various levels of education (some people are from my elem. and middle school days, some are from my HS days, and some are from my college days). As a result, I have a hard time figuring out what level of schooling I’m supposed to be at, so I go around asking people what grade I’m in, but no one seems to know. Other dreams I have quite frequently are where I am working to translate something, or-- as I’m a newspaper editor-- lay out a page, but none of the photos and stories seem to fit right. I usually wake up all tense, with a headache, and feeling more tired than when I went to bed. Happy ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/35 "2003-08-29T15:34:53Z")
Honestly, I had never heard of the “where’s my penis?” dream before reading the above posts. And yes, I’m male. I wasn’t familiar with the one about forgetting the locker combination either. Then again, 29 years after graduation, I still remember mine. On the other hand, I have had the one about suddenly remembering I’m in a class that I haven’t attended all semester many, many times. In particular I dream that I am still in night law school, taking three classes a semester. One I am well prepared in. One needs some intensive study. And the third I have to learn overnight. Interestingly, I never seem to recall what the classes were later. More interesting still, I never seem to have had this dream until _after_ I graduated law school. I interpret it as being about anxieties about whether I am attending to my future properly; it seems to say that I am confident that I am handling my life well in some aspects, but fear that I am unprepared in other respects. My most recurrent dream is one I haven’t noticed mentioned. I had it starting in childhood and recall having it until about ten years ago (I’m 47). Each time the dream was different in terms of setting, duration, etc., yet each time the pattern was the same: I would realize I was dreaming, then wake up. Then I would realize I was dreaming, and wake up, then I would expend a great deal of effort, feeling all more anxious all the while, as I tried to reason whether I was asleep or awake. Sometimes I would wake in my childhood home, encounter members of my family as they appeared when I was a child, and try to explain to them my dilemma. Usually they’d just laugh. It seems that sometimes I would “wake up” two or three times, and sometimes more than a dozen. Eventually I developed a technique for dealing with this. Sometimes I would recall the technique and it would spare me any further anxiety. Other times I was incapable of remembering it and would stay locked in a cycle of recurrent awakenings. The technique consisted of trying to float; I would tip forward until I would have to fall flat on my face, yet instead the tips of my toes would lift gently off of the ground and rise, until I was hovering over the ground at a height of about three or four feet. I could then fly, but usually only very slowly, like a gliding blimp. Once I did this I would feel reassured that I was only dreaming, and even seem to be able to take control of events. I have found this technique to be a great comfort in other types of dreams as well when I have been rational enough to remember and use it. ---
**Author:** ![ElevatedSteve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3da27b/32.png) [@ElevatedSteve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElevatedSteve)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/36 "2003-08-29T15:55:28Z")
I’ve had the pear dream again. ---
**Author:** ![Lenny\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9dc877/32.png) [@Lenny\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lenny_Carl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/37 "2003-08-29T16:21:21Z")
Add me to the list. I’m walking around on my HS campus and the bell rings, but I have no clue where my next class is. Then I realize that I haven’t been to this class all semester, so I stress out trying to figure out how I’m going to explain to my teacher where I’ve been all year. It’s funny, back in HS, I was never late to any of my classes… yet, I wasn’t the best student, nor did I care too much about school in general… yet I have these dreams. It’s just very odd just how universal this dream is. One interesting note about my dreams: Over the past 5 or 6 years, I’ve been able to control my dreams. When I was younger, I used to dream that I was being chased by monsters (or some sort of “bad thing”) and I would get caught and feel pain and all that stuff… but now, I’m able to realize that I _am_ dreaming, and I can now stand up to the “bad thing” and defeat it… or fly away. It’s pretty cool. 😃 But I _still_ have that damn “school” dream. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![JungleLove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@JungleLove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JungleLove)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/38 "2003-08-29T16:57:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zeldar \* > \*\*The one I love is the one where you start walking and the steps get longer and longer until you can hold yourself in the air indefinitely and then it’s just like flying. > > But the never been to class all semester is a true bummer. \*\* Yes, I love that one, too! I have woken up a few times & thought for a good ten minutes “Wow, I really can fly!” It takes a long time to wake up. 😃 Other reoccuring dreams: The falling dream. The being chased dream. The wrestling with an alligator or savage dog dream. The I must drive my car on the highway from an aerial view & by remote control. The I’ve wrecked my car dream. All of the above are from anxiety during waking hours. I love the shopping, sex, and antique shop dreams. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/39 "2003-08-29T17:32:42Z")
Wow, I thought I was the only person who had “I’ve Forgotten To Go To Class For Three Months” dream, where I suddenly realize I totally forgot Class so-and-so was on my timetable. I get that all the time. I also get nakedness dreams, but never pertaining to work, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210/40 "2003-08-29T17:56:45Z")
After reading the posting by **CookingWithGas** , the reason for these recurring dreams of failing classes is quite simple. Too many instructors, teachers, professors, etc are too damned inflexible, difficult … okay they can be downright jerks. It seems that the fears and anxieties they instilled in us remain with us perhaps for the rest of our lives. On a similar note, although I have quit smoking, occassionally, I have dreams where I am smoking and feel really disappointed because I’ve gone back. I might have 1 of these per month. The shocking thing is that I quit smoking 25 years ago !! Maybe those 2 stories give you an idea about the power of 1) nasty professors and 2) nicotine addiction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-havent-been-to-class-all-semester-dream/198210.md?page=3)