We have reached that time of the year again. The one that comes only once a semester, if you're lucky. Midterms. You've been taking midterms and finals, their evil twin, twice (and for some unlucky souls, thrice) a semester since college began, and yet you are never prepared. They always show up seemingly unannounced, leaving you with two or three days to study frantically and wonder how you managed to get yourself into this mess...again. We all do it, and thankfully there is a way to understand the pain one goes through during midterms: the five stages of grief.
1. Denial
Ah, denial. It's the stage of midterms where the phrase, "My exam isn't until next Thursday!," is often heard. In many ways it's the best stage - you aren't a ball of stress yet, there are no tear-streaked pages of notes, and you get your full eight hours of sleep at night. If this stage had a t-shirt, it would be one of those smiley face ones that say "Life is Good."
Studying Status: Chillin' in bed re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, eating Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, and making believe you don't have a care in the world.
2. Anger
In this stage, you're very much like our good friend Harry - minus a lightning-shaped scar, perfectly round glasses, and (most likely) the sexy British accent. You're angry, you feel betrayed, and you can't believe your test has snuck up on you like this. Unfortunately, much like Ron and Hermione, your friends - the ones who kept warning you that midterms were next week - are likely to receive an earful of your anger.
Studying Status: Yelling about your professor to anyone who will listen, "Okay, but HE HASN'T TAUGHT US ANY OF WHAT IS ON THIS PRACTICE EXAM! LOOK AT MY NOTES!!!"
3. Bargaining
This is the stage where you wonder if it's possible to go to your advisor and beg that they let you complete your major/minor without this course. Or, if it's possible to receive major/minor credit for it if it's taken pass/fail? Come on, work with me here!
Studying Status: Staring blankly at your computer, your notebook and folder stuffed full of random handouts sitting untouched beside you.
4. Depression
This is the stage that involves the most wine consumption - typically straight out of the bottle. Depression is also the stage where you dissolve into a puddle of tears when it finally hits you that your econometrics midterm is in two days and you have yet to even crack open the textbook this semester.
Studying Status: Cranking up some break-up playlists on Spotify - after all, you are saying goodbye to an acceptable GPA.
5. Acceptance
It is after much turmoil that you reach the final, and most important, stage of midterms: accepting your fate that they will occur, and since there is nothing you can do to stop them, you might as well start studying.
Studying Status: Cramming in the library, drinking an extra cup of coffee, and gearing up for an all-nighter - just kidding, no matter how bad you have it, you would never give up your precious sleep. Nothing is that important.
