It's the most wonderful time of the year (that is, after finals week).
Here's a list of the top 7 things seen on campus on this pre-holiday week from hell.
1. That kid
You see that kid running wildly down the sidewalk with his backpack half open and all of the contents spilling out. He's right in the center of the bike lane and most definitely running away from a math exam. We've all been there. You go man. You run.
2. A library jungle
It seems as if 80% of students have never stepped foot into the library until finals week, and then they suddenly believe that this study location will give them the power to transform 1.0s to 4.0s. I'm all for community study sessions, but there are 50,000 people at our school and one very average sized library, friends.
3. Shaky hands
You look over mid-exam and can't help but notice the trembling hand of your fellow peer as they attempt to bubble in a scantron of knowledge. Maybe they are in that much fear of their academic future. Maybe it was the 4 1/2 cups of coffee they inhaled this morning already. We might never know.
4. Tears
Bring on the waterworks. Just let it go. You can use finals week as an excuse to cry anywhere at anytime. No cares cares if you're an "ugly crier." It's a week full of genuine empathy. Cry over your notes, cry in your bed, cry in the coffee line. Personally, I suggest crying in the shower so that your tears blend right in.
5. Sleep?
This is false. We don't see much of this at all actually, unless it's the imprint of a table corner on one's face after falling into the trap of weakness for 20 minutes on a study table. They say you can sleep when you're dead. That is your motto for the week. Live it, learn in, and believe in it.
6. Notecards
I am confident that if we combined every notecard created from every student at our university, we would be able to grow a large forest. Something to think about.
7. Conrads or Conrads type things
2am? Order food. 4am? Order food. Middle of the day but you can't get up and make food because you'll waste 22 minutes of valuable study time? Order food. Just failed an exam? Order some food.
But in all seriousness, you're going to make it. Finals week just measures your toughness and you're willingness to work hard for the things that you want.
And at the end, you have a month of holiday cheer and your home bed to take a few long naps in.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
