The days spanning from the end of April into May can be hell for a college student. It is known as a particularly stressful time for students because of the incredible amount of work, ranging from papers to projects to final exams. Students create a community around their overwhelming workload and, in some respects, the amount of stress can seem comical. Chris Traeger, the overly-optimistic, fastidiously fit and astonishingly up beat character from Parks and Recreation may seem like the last person that could encapsulate a college student's experience but somehow, he manages to perfectly express how we feel. The parallels are uncanny.
1. When you know all of the upcoming work will crush you, but you still try to stay optimistic
It is the beginning of the week, maybe you even have enough willpower to shower every day.
2. When your teacher pushes up a due-date for the final paper
3. And denies any extensions
Not even 24 hours? But even if the professor does give an extension, you will probably procrastinate up to the new deadline and stay up till 5am to finish.
4. But you try not to let it ruin your week
Because tragedy. Will (might). Strike.
5. When you pre-plan therapy sessions even before the exams hit
6. Because really, when sh** hits the fan, you need to be ready
7. When your study partner is too busy to meet
You are all ready with hours of study material and snacks when suddenly ... something comes up.
8. So you spend the wee hours of the morning studying alone
9. When your 5 a.m. coffee run was not as much of a pick-me-up as you had hoped
A caffeine dependency is an essential part of any finals week schedule.
10. When you try to talk yourself out of a mental breakdown
And you realize no amount of "positive thinking" can help you now.
11. When it is the night before an exam ...
12. And you are really struggling to keep it together
13. But your body/brain are having a hard time keeping up
Sometimes you just have to let it loose.
14. When it is test day and your friend asks how you are feeling about your exams
15. When your first thoughts as you take your seat in the exam hall are less than optimistic
At least we can be 100 percent certain of anything.
16. Afterwards, when your friend asks you how the test went
Just do not ask until at least an hour after the exam or until I can eat enough candy to convince myself life is really not that bad ...
17. But then he/she reminds you that summer is almost here
So if you are heading into finals, take a note from the happy Chris Traeger and stay positive, even if overwhelming anxiety is inevitable.
