Being a junior in college and graduating next fall, this will be my last month of college before summer...ever. Surprisingly, over the last 2 years I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in how to tackle these last few weeks before finals. You could say I am veteran in the game, and some might describe me as the Brett Favre or Obi Won Kenobi of finals month. Every student across the nation is anxiously awaiting summer like a puppy when he hears your hand rummaging through his favorite bag of treats. But before you can get your reward for being the hardworking, timely, good student that only your aunt thinks you are, you need to get through April (and if you're on the quarter system, May and even part of June).
Here are 4 quotes that will help inspire you to make that final push towards freedom:
"The more energy you put into something the more you’re going to get out of it."
This is a universal quote that is as self-explanatory as breathing. Oxygen in and carbon dioxide out. In terms of work: time, effort, energy, and positive attitude in, and good grades and positive results out. I have discovered that over the years putting in the extra hours in to my work has a direct result in the grades that I have received in my projects and test. So the next time it is 2 am and you and your biology lab partner are trapped in a study room submerged in notes while you Wikipedia the definition of Allosteric regulators, instead of being frustrated, you can be satisfied knowing that the extra push of effort that you’re putting into your classes will bloom worthy results. These next few weeks your effort will be crucial in determining your success in school.
"Life demands that you take on adversity in order to experience great expansions, joy, and fulfillment."
This is a quote I read from the book, “The Way of the Champion: Lessons from Sun Tzu's the Art of War and Other Tao Wisdom for Sports & Life” by Jerry Lynch and Chungliang Al Huang. It stuck with me because it helped explain why bad things would happen to me during the semester, whether that be problems in school, arguments with friends or girlfriends, and more. In life, you can’t avoid pain or adversity ,but it is mandatory that you face these issues head on because the result is fulfillment.
For most students, college is yet another challenging environment paving the path toward getting a great education and, ultimately, career. During the school year, there are a lot of ups, but those come with many downs. You wouldn't get the same joy or feeling of accomplishment that you will feel just from going to a school where you weren't challenged by rigorousness course load. When you study hard, or work through that argument, and eventually graduate, you will feel a giant sense of fulfillment and happiness because you faced many challenges on the route to your goal. This is the exact feeling that you will feel in a few weeks when all your hard work from the year has paid off and you can finally enjoy a break.
"Take it one day at a time."
With the holy grail known as summer right around the corner it could be easy to look past all the work you have in front of you. It is extremely important to take these next few weeks one day at a time, one assignment at a time, and one class at a time.
"Everything always works out for the best."
I can tell you that I had more than my fair share of bad test grades and moments of doubt in school, especially around this time of year. The way I look at it is, before a plane gets to its destination it sometimes must go through rain clouds and there will definitely be turbulence before it lands. The plane is you and the turbulence are all the obstacles you face between now the end of the school year. This is a stressful time of year and it's easy to think you're going to fail all your classes, or your teachers are plotting against you, or you'll never fall in love. Both of these are far out, non-logical, and not most importantly inaccurate. Everything in your life is going to work out the way its supposed to, and, if something is currently not okay, all that means is its not over yet. I have had thoughts similar to these in the past and all though I may have done badly on a few exams, I am still in school doing well and trying my hardest. For this last month of school, you are going to have a million things to worry about, and with that being said your future occupation, safety, and love life should not be one of those. At the end of this semester, or quarter, you can find peace knowing that you've studied hard and remember that, in the end, everything always works out for the best.
