The Trials and Tribulations of Exam Week

Dec 6

The first week of the semester is like many beginnings, for it is a time filled with ambition and excitement. It is the time in which we vow to do the assigned readings and to start studying for exams plenty of time in advance. We meet new friends and get to know them better, we attend new classes and learn what assignments are to be completed, and we carve out time for nights on the town and extracurriculars. The end of the semester is far different from other kinds of endings. Some endings are abrupt, but the end of the semester is unique in the sense that it is drawn out while still flying by within the haze of sleep deprivation and cramming cumulative material. Characterized by a constant buzz in the library and the lingering scent of roasted coffee beans, it is impossible to ignore the beginning of the end, finals week. For some, finals week may feel like Russian roulette for a secure GPA whereas for others it may feel like smooth sailing in the Mediterranean. If you feel like your final’s week resembles the former as opposed to the latter, you might find yourself facing an academic obstacle to success or pipeline to failure.

As with the trials and tribulations our favorite character’s face on television, I believe the key to success during finals week is to do some soul searching and get to know yourself better. It is important to know your study styles, acknowledge your time management skills (or lack thereof), and most importantly to be realistic with how much effort you have already put throughout the semester. It is also beneficial to find ways to reward yourself for putting in the time to study and prepare ways to possibly console you if things go south. My personal favorite reward is splurging on something I would very much enjoy eating or allowing myself a day where I wake up and say yes to whatever comes to mind. For others, it might be going out with friends or listening to Red (Taylor’s Version). The possibilities are endless, and while it is important to hit the books “or-go” (pun intended) through all the material covered in those classes you kept telling yourself you would stop skipping, it is also important to make sure you do not burn out and can do it all again next semester.