As our classes come to an end and that hill of homework off in the distance draws closer, we see what it truly is: a mountain. The incline we have been climbing thus far is merely the foothills.
Struggling to put one foot in front of the other, another difficulty comes our way. Just as the thin, high-altitude air saps the strength of mountaineers, so too does the changing of the seasons inspire students to slow down.
For most of the country, the promise of spring is the source of lethargy, but for us Arizonans, dread of the approaching heat has much the same effect.
The pestilent insects of internship, summer program, graduation and scholarship applications torment our every step.
Then just as we begin settling into our mind-numbing trudge, a boulder falls on us.
Boulder, thy name is taxes.
I get the benefits, so I don't mind paying moderate, sensible taxes.
Unfortunately, governmental efforts are rarely moderate and sensible - but then, neither am I. Add convoluted tax preparation software, and it results in an annual mid-April meltdown.
"Aw man, where did I put my W-2s?"
I am single enough and worth little enough to use the EZ forms. The "easy" in EZ is relative to the regular form, not to life in general, mind you. I thought after five years of filing taxes, I would have figured out the simplest form they offer, at least.
Little did I know the form wasn't going to be the big problem.
"What program did I use last year? Wasn't it TurboTax?"
My fuzzy memory is clear enough to remember that my poor-student status allows me to file my taxes using online programs for free. So I hopped over to the TurboTax site to begin.
Everything was going my way. I found my W-2s. I remembered my username and password. I had online banking, which allowed me to look up all my statements. I had three previous years' tax returns on file with TurboTax.
I clicked on the Free Edition of the online tax software and began the data entry. An uneasy feeling of deja vu came over me - a vague memory that I had approached this scenario differently before, and I was currently making a mistake.
Just tax anxiety, I figured. After all, if I mess anything up in this giant math equation of terror, it could mean fines, jail or, worst of all, more paperwork!
My neurotic behavior in over-drive, I asked my dad the same questions I do every year.
"Do bank dividends go under interest or dividends?"
Interest, contrarily enough.
"Do I have to report the $0.07 interest I earned in my bank account?"
Just enter everything, to be safe.
"Am I considered legally blind?"
No, an oblivious daze is not the same as being blind.
There, 1040 done, TurboTax just needs to copy the basic info over to my state return and...
"$30 to file the state return?! It's supposed to be free! I'm only getting a $15 refund."
Here is the wisdom I have to depart after surviving the boulder only to be squashed by the lever that was supposed to lift it off of me.
Taxes, like homework, are best done well before the deadline - leaves time to find documents, fix problems and eat recovery chocolate with enough time to burn it off for swimsuit season.
This year, because of April 15 being a Sunday and the Washington, D.C. holiday Emancipation Day falling on Monday, taxes are not due until April 17. That's today.
Don't rejoice over a $140 refund-they'll get it one way or another. Remember those parking tickets?
And most of all, if you are going to file for free using TurboTax online, you have to follow the link from the IRS site. If you don't, you'll spend an hour filling everything out only to realize you were using the "Free" edition instead of the stupidly named "Freedom" edition.
And TurboTax is smart. There is no going back.
Just remember, in TurboTax land, freedom is free - but free costs 30 bucks.
Reach the reporter: francesca.vanderfeltz@asu.edu.
