It's no secret that for every college student April becomes the month in which we work harder than before, study harder than before, drink lots more coffee and put off tons of sleep. There are finals to crash study for, projects to throw together hastily, under-eye bags to ignore as a definite sign of sleep deprivation.
However, sometimes in between the 13-minute power naps and the all-takeout-diet, we neglect to spend time with our college friends. There's school, which is very important. But then there are our friendships, which in a sense are just as important.
If it weren't for my friendships, I definitely would have remained stagnant as a cook. I would be making the same meal for the rest of my life or the rest of my college career. Also, I wouldn't have learned that you can't use Clorox wipes to clean everything--although that is what the label is for.
So in between the hectic chaos of finals, I'm making sure to spend some quality time with my friends. Here are a few ways I've done so, and if you're also busy see if you can incorporate these ideas into your finals week as well.
1. Walk Your Friends To Class.
Whether you have class in the general direction of your friends' or have a few minutes to spare, walking your friends to class is always something fun to do. However, I do suggest leaving a few minutes earlier in case you and your friends want to enjoy a nice scenic walk together. Crank up the tunes and dance all the way to class as if you aren't on public walkways. Play a game like I Spy or bet how many student bikers just might run you over on their way to their destinations. Make the most out of something as simple as this because we aren't going to be in class forever.
2. Share A Homemade Lunch Together.
Don't let finals distract you from a somewhat healthy meal--at this point anything that's homemade is healthy, right? Take about an hour for lunch and catch up with your friends while making your favorite dish. Talk about what may be stressing each person out and encourage each other through words and the solace of a hearty meal. "The best time to bond is around the kitchen table," said someone at some point.
3. Take Up Every Opportunity As A "Selfie-Tunity."
Pose! Pose! Pose! Why? Because you are flawless and so are your friends. Whip out your camera, turn on some cheesy pop music and pretend you are at a photo shoot. Vogue! Take plenty of pics with your friends because A) you love them and B) you need more material for the obligatory end-of-the-year collage you're going to post on Facebook. Or Instagram? What are the social medias the youths are getting into? Well, whichever venue it is, there isn't any notion as "too many pictures" when it comes to your collage. The more indiscernible the faces are, the more cherishable the post.
4. Study Outdoors.
Yes, studying is an inevitable pastime during finals. It's something every student must succumb to. But why make it boring when you can make it enjoyable? Find a pretty spot on campus--or a grotesque spot if you're into that--lay out some blankets and pretend you're at the Coachella of studying. Bring a tent, some sofas you bought at a thrift store, a cooler for the snacks. Dress like the 60s never ended, play some tunes, pretend the passersby are celebrities. Pose for the paparazzi; see how many wigs you can get away with before the media turns it into a thing; leave in the middle of the festivities in order to jump on your private jet to attend a wedding, then come back just in time to see your DJ boyfriend perform. Oh wait, were we studying?
5. Be Blessed By Beyonce's Lemonade Album.
There are so many things to say about the visual and aural experience of Beyonce's album, "Lemonade." It's heart-wrenching, raw, and so personal. But something you can take from "Lemonade" is that no matter how dire a situation can be, it can always be redeemed and turned into something beautiful. Lemons make lemonade. Now, of course, Beyonce's lemons look a lot like infidelity and kind of make our worries about finals a little minuscule, but apples and oranges you know? Er, lemonade. What fruit were we talking about?
