Let's face it: College means that sometimes we're Captain Kirk, fearlessly exploring and winning people over. Sometimes we're Spock, cramming knowledge into our brains and being the coolest cucumber around. And sometimes we're Bones -- overworked, underappreciated, and more sarcastic than people ever remember.
Finals week means all sorts of things to everybody, but mainly it's a lot of internal (and external) screaming, cramming, studying, and taking care of business until suddenly it's all over and people are gone on break. Finals week is rough on us all, and what better way to express what we're feeling through the most normal of the Triumvirate?
1. Looking ahead at the calendar and the things you have to do
Yeah, I'm free at about 6 p.m. today to fear the impending doom, panic a lot, and worry everyone in my vicinity. They should be worried, too -- it's coming for them as well. Nobody escapes.
2. Balancing caring for yourself and time management
Sometimes, even in the middle of finals week, your finals may seem weeks away, and you might think you don't have to study. It's fake. Study.
3. When you die from the workload
So your professors have assigned five essays, three research reports, and you've got 17 tests to take. (OK, slight exaggeration -- or is it?) It gets to be a lot.
4. That point where your friends start writing their wills and you just want to go too
Sometimes the hysteria just gets to people and instead of getting into a frenzy, they get serious, and it's a little scary and weird. For some reason, you're never at the same stress level they are, and your panic manifests as a need to bail.
5. Looking at your friends who still maintain a regular workout schedule
Are they magicians? Are they insane? How do they do that? Finals is a time for constant studying and consuming any and all things that will give you energy to pull another all-nighter. Who has got the time to wear themselves out physically when they're worn out mentally already? Witchcraft.
6. When you give up the will to go on and you need your friends to support you
You might be thinking this is a tad overdramatic. You must have forgotten what it's like, a whole week of test taking and cramming and being surrounded by people just as nervous and just as driven as you. Luckily, you have always got your friends that are willing to shout into the ether with you.
7. When you realize you just finished your last final exam
It's a mixed feeling because hurrah, you're done, you can stop studying and enjoy the break! On the other hand, what if you missed question 16 on the exam you took yesterday, or what if the essay question you answered wasn't good enough, or what if this day is a dream and you've got to wake up and do it all over again? I'll tell you what, it's probably not a dream. You did it!
8. When you realize break means leaving your friends once more
You were too busy slamming your head repeatedly into books this past week to notice, but after finals comes a break -- when everyone returns to where they came from, and you've got to go back too. Sure, it'll be nice to be away from classes and such, but not so much to be away from your tightest squad.
Now you might be thinking:
But just remember -- you've got to do it all over again next semester!
