Everyone knows finals are extremely stressful for students; however, there are some benefits to finals season that may outweigh the crippling stress. Exams are always terrible any way you look at it, but with the independence and community atmosphere that college brings we may just make it through this alive. We just have to look at the bright side through the remaining weeks.
1. Free Food
Between Dead Week Doughnuts and Midnight Breakfast, no one will go hungry during finals. Not to mention all the end-of-semester club meetings that include pizza and soda. It’s a well-known fact that college students love food and what better way to soften the blow of finals than to feed us unhealthy and delicious snacks.
2. Puppies
Animals can help reduce anxiety which is why many universities have adopted the use of therapy dogs during the most stressful time for students. And of course everyone still misses the pets they left behind when they came to college.
3. Excuse for Non-School Related Activities
No one understands the stress of finals better than students so if you miss chapter or a club meeting it’s not the end of the world. Most people are very understanding of your schedule and even your parents won’t mind if you don’t call back right away.
4. You Get to Meet New People
Now you can finally meet that professor whose office hours you’ve never been to before. And why not your TA too? You’ll be emailing them constantly and inundating them with piazza questions at ungodly hours for the next week so take the time to get to know them.
5. Computer Skills
That excel spreadsheet you made to calculate what you need on the final in order to pass will allow you to list “proficient in excel” on your résumé which will hopefully help you get a job when you finally graduate.
6. Camaraderie
The hopelessness of finals affects everyone creating a sense of camaraderie. At least you won’t be failing alone. No matter who is in your class you feel sympathy for them because you know all too well what they’re going through.
7.Calories don’t count
Everyone knows that you can eat whatever you want during finals because it doesn’t count. This isn’t real and neither are the four doughnuts you just ate. Drink all the Starbucks you want, you’ll need that caffeine for the multiple all-nighters you have to pull.
8. Procrastination
Your room has never been cleaner. You’ve vacuumed, done laundry, washed the dishes and the only thing left to do is study. Or you could try out that new recipe you saw on Pinterest, it won’t count against your diet anyways.
9. Does stress count as exercise?
While working out is actually a legitimate way of reducing stress, you’re far too tired to even consider going to the CRC. It will take up valuable time that we have clearly established is for cleaning and complaining. Besides, you’ll work out when you have time even though you will definitely not be beach body ready.
10. No one is going to judge your appearance
Ladies, put down your makeup brushes and step away from the foundation. No one cares what you look like during finals. You don’t even have to wear real clothes; those pajamas will do just fine.
11. Anticipation of break
Lastly, finals aren’t forever. Soon enough you’ll be relaxing by the pool, studying abroad, interning to gain valuable experience, or taking summer classes. Exams will end eventually even if it doesn’t feel that way.
Good luck on finals everyone!
