Finals Week — the dreaded, anxiety-provoking, gut-wrenching five days that is hell. It is worse than the most aggressive hangover; it is more depressing than a Sarah McLachlan SPCA commercial and similar to a five-day-long, never-ending SAT test. It drains your soul and leaves you alone in the library, pitch dark outside, asking yourself why you never considered a gap year or going into stripping. But when you're done and you walk out of your last test, you will be free, free at last to live your life; you can receive a normal amount of sleep, you can go without crying for a week and you won't have to pick up a writing utensil for as long as you want. Here are eight things to remind you that it will be worth it. Five more days, people.
1. 10-hour sleeping patterns
Yes, it's possible. Yes, you can do it. The day after your last final, you will be able to sleep 10 straight hours with no reason to wake up. No 8:00 a.m. Spanish class, no pre-class lift, no homework that you forgot the night before. You can wake up to your own heart's desire.
2. Your pets
Christmas break is for laying with your dogs all day; they are waiting for you. They will jump all over you when you get back from the prison that is college, and all you need to do is finish that last test.
3. Good, real food
No more crappy cafeteria food — we're talking real, homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whenever you want. There are no such things as meal swipes, declining balance, budgets, etc. The pantry is your home for the next six weeks, and this will be your beginning of the infamous Winter Break 15.
4. Thanksgiving
Turkey, gravy, caramel apple pie (my fave), cute outfits that will eventually be turned in for oversized sweats...one of the best times of the year. While you're chowing down on those mashed potatoes, you won't even remember that midterm you failed...but get this final over with.
5. Then comes... EVERYTHING HOLIDAY!
Christmas music on the radio, Christmas lights on every tree, stockings, Hanukkah, presents, caroling, snow, the most beautiful things come out during December, and you are SO close!
6. Netflix
Make that Netflix show list; I've got mine ("How To Get Away With Murder," "Scandal," "Blacklist," "Gossip Girl"). Make this list to get you through your studying — when your last final is over, you are granted permission to start enjoying the shows you've wanted to watch since syllabus week.
7. Home friends
Your friends are coming home! This means: endless binge eating sessions, hours of catching up on everyone's lives, seeing their parents for the first time in three months, sleepovers, etc. You've missed them...you can admit it.
8. And the most important part...
25 Days of Christmas
You're welcome!
