Dear Finals Season,

You may have sucked the life out of me, but you’re not going to win. I may have three papers due next week, and I might still have no idea where several of my finals are taking place, and I might feel like I’m going to collapse at any possible moment, but I am going to make it through this. I am going to hydrate, and I am going to eat some oatmeal, and I’m going to survive.

Well.

I’ll try.

You see, Finals, the problem is that you just won’t gimme a break. I know, I know. You just want this to be over and done with. But maybe I don’t! Maybe I want to stay here for a little bit longer! It’s not that I don’t want to go home. But I’m not ready for the first half of my first year of college to be over, not to mention that winter break is a long time to go without seeing my friends. And besides--if you want this to be over, it would’ve been easier to start all of these projects sooner, instead of cramming them into the past two weeks.

And that right there is the problem. Because I never get a break! You just want me to be working, constantly, without ever stopping. Sure, I finished that assignment and I think I’m going to collapse from exhaustion, but don’t forget--I have another one due tomorrow! And a paper the day after that! I can’t let myself take a break. If I do, everything I’ve been avoiding will pile up and conspire to take me down. But if I don’t, it’ll happen anyway.

But it’s fine. I guess I knew what I was getting into, right? When we first started talking, Finals, you told me that you could be a little… overwhelming. Intimidating. Downright, heart-wrenchingly scary. And I said that was fine. It was just an aspect of you. You were also passionate, and you just want me to succeed.

But not this way. Please, god, not this way. You’re killing me.

I guess… I guess it’ll be over soon. I just have to get through these next two weeks, and then we’re through. Because after that, I’m starting a new semester, with new classes, and I don’t have to worry about all of this stress anymore. I’m going to get my life together! I’m going to procrastinate less, I’m gonna eat healthier, try to keep up with my readings, write more, read more… it’s gonna be awesome.

Until May. Then it’s gonna suck.

Thanks, Finals, for making me realize that I really need better time management skills.

Ren