As another JMU school year comes to a close, we all can’t help but have mixed emotions. On one hand you may feel like finals are slowly drowning you in a pool of your own flashcards, on the other hand, it’s important to remember that this is your last week of the school year. The last week to spend with your friends, wander around campus, and most importantly, the last week to enjoy JMU’s world-renowned dining services. Before you decide to lock yourself in ECL’s 24-hour room for the remainder of the week, here are five things you should really consider making some time for.

Use up the rest of your dining:

For those of us lucky enough to have a meal plan (and are not addicted to Starbucks coffee), chances are you have a pretty decent amount of dining left which, let this be your formal warning, DOES NOT roll over to next year. So do yourself & your parents a favor and go to either Mr. Chips, The Pod, or really anywhere that takes dining and buy all the food you can eat. And if you’re not the only one of your friends in this predicament, put all the food you get from your leftover dining together and have an end of the year feast (Disclaimer: this may only consist of candy, milkshakes, and boxes of easy mac, but at least it’ll make a good story)

Hang Out on the Quad:

Whether you’re just taking in some sunlight, picnicking with friends, stalking other people’s puppies, or even bringing your books outside to study in the light of day- do it. You won’t regret it.

Cheesy Thursday:

Be sure to make your last pilgrimage to E-hall this Thursday to experience the all you can eat grilled cheese. This staple of JMU culture is both not available in the real world nor is it socially acceptable to consume that much grilled cheese in one sitting. So before you leave for the summer, make sure to take advantage.

Take a Hike:

Haven’t made it off campus and into the mountains yet? Organize a hiking trip for your study break! Whether it’s waking up early to go see the sunrise or visiting a trail on Skyline Drive, a hike is not only the perfect study break, but the perfect way to end the year. If you’re looking for a great hike but don’t know a ton about hiking- here are a few beginner hikes that are guaranteed to make you forget about finals.

Hawksbill Summit, Skyline Drive

Stony Man Overlook, Skyline Drive

Humpback Rocks, Blue Ridge Parkway

Climb to the roof of ISAT:

If you haven’t already discovered it, the roof ISAT is the single most awesome spot on JMU’s campus. Around 6:30pm, grab some friends and make the trip up to the highest floor and and out onto the rooftop balcony to watch the sun set over all of JMU’s campus. It might take away from your study time, but when you’re sitting home this summer reflecting all the cool things you did this year, you’ll definitely be glad you did it.