With finals fast approaching, I can't help but feel a burst of anxiety, stress, and hopelessness. I have spent the past semester working my butt off to ensure that I make good grades for all of my classes, yet somehow that doesn't seem good enough. Why is it that we must work hard all semester to then just let our grades depend on how well we test?
I have never been one who can ace an exam without studying; things don't come easily to me even though I wish every day they did. I have never been someone who accepts defeat, especially when it comes to school; I work tirelessly not only to make myself proud but to show my parents that their money isn't going to waste.
However, towards the end of the semester, I tend to lose focus on what needs to be done and instead daydream about summer and all of the things I'd rather be doing than sitting in a cold library studying texts on red and white blood cells. I've noticed that my efforts dwindle the closer we get to finals week, which is a horrible thing considering finals week requires stamina, hard work, and strength.
Speaking from someone who cares a lot about grades, I find it unfair that teachers expect us to study and prepare for all of our exams –I'm taking five– at the same time. How is it possible to have enough time to study for all of our exams plus complete last-minute assignments or projects? Do teachers just not care about their students' mental and physical health? When am I supposed to eat, sleep, or spend time with friends? In order to stay sane, I need all three, but I am confident that these upcoming exams will leave me deficient in all of them.
I understand that teachers need to know whether their students comprehended the material they have been teaching since January, but I think there are many different ways of doing so. I can't imagine doing well on all of my exams due to the limited amount of time I have in preparing and studying for them –and am confident a majority of other students feel the same way– so why do teachers expect this from us?
Here's to hoping I survive finals week and do well on all of my exams. Who cares about my mental health anyway!