Thanksgiving break has come and gone, and in its wake is the looming period of finals. For some, these set of exams will be their saving grace. For others, it may just simply just be another test. Doubtlessly for all, it will make a huge impact on their GPA. A tiny slip of concentration is all it takes to decide whether the student passes or fails, and for everyone's sake - hopefully it is not the former.

Finals week has finally arrived at the doorstep of my college. Pounding at the door, nothing but one more week of classes separates us from these massive exams; it seems like only a few weeks ago has it been the first week of the semester. I suppose time flies by when you are having fun, or in this case, trying to survive your classes.

Studying for exams is never a pleasant thing to do, and trying to cope with the pressure that comes with them can always be difficult. As a first year freshmen in college, facing my first finals is almost akin to getting a death sentence - for my grades. Which is synonymous to literally dying. Which is not good.

The first word that triggered this anxiety-inducing week was the word, cumulative.

That's right: cumulative.

For the most part, that shouldn't bother most if they have had a good grappling with their courses, but if you're like me - if you are a biochemistry major, well then - cumulative is anything but your best friend or someone you would tolerate. When I first heard that taboo word spoken out of all my science and math courses' professors' mouths, I literally felt my complexion pale.

Fast forward to this week, I can be seen walking around campus as the prime example of stress. Finding more than four hours of sleep a day is a blessing at this point, and discovering me without a thermos full of coffee is a warning cautioning others to be wary of sporadic, anxious outbursts. I am legitimately a walking time bomb pretending to have a sense of organization.

I spend hours practicing problems, applying formulas, and memorizing. I dedicate hours to subjects which I know don't require much attention, and spend maybe thirty minutes on a course that needs more dedication. A day on average sees at least an hour for personal hygiene, thirty minutes for eating, ten minutes worth of coffee breaks, and twenty hours of studying; favoritism and unreasonable time management are obviously the banes of my academic existence.

So save yourself from this mess, don't be like me, and most especially do not ever wait last minute to start studying. Everyone handles finals differently, and hopefully you are coping with yours better than I am with mine. Good luck and get some sleep!