Finals week is one of the most dreaded weeks of the year for college students. It is like the Super Bowl for your classes... the end, and truly, you either win or lose. It’s really how you prepare for the big day that makes it all worth it when you get to the actual exams. If you wait too long to start studying, well, you’ve already ruined your chances of making it out alive.
I tend to get overwhelmed thinking about where to start studying because frankly, there is so much to do and so little time. So here are my feelings during studying and finals week, featuring the only and only, Dexter Morgan:
1. Despair
You can often get this feeling by looking at your study guides and having an existential crisis. Even if most of your classes right now are ridiculous, you still have to remember all of the material for the final. You start to rethink whether this major is right for you and whether you have what it takes to even attend college.
2. Rage
This often occurs when you can't learn anything because everyone else is way too loud. Studying at the library is great right? Wrong. It’s so nice when you are trying to understand information and the people in the exact place that is meant to be quiet won’t be quiet and you can't retain any of the information. The library is a no-go during finals week for me. When you're actually trying to learn, the fewer people around the better.
3. Emptiness
The feeling you get having spent so much time studying – you have lost your sense of self and don’t know if you are meant to do anything else in life other than study and drink caffeine. At this point, Red Bull and pop tarts are your only friends. The emptiness will also result from the lack of sustainable food... there is simply not enough time to take a break and get any. And if you do go, you might also lose your beloved spot at the library (you know, the spot that's actually away from the loud people).
4. Hope
This stems from actually starting to feel like you will learn and remember this information, maybe for only one day, but one day is all you need. Maybe you can get an A on most of your exams? Who knows, but the energy and determination are high. Keep going, friend. You can do it.
5. "Shit"
That feeling after you walk out of your exam and not knowing if you did amazing or simply god-awful. There is really no way to tell – only time will.
6. Relief
Knowing you are finally done with finals and with studying for a little offers a lot of relief. Hopefully, the coffee and all-nighters have paid off – if not, at least you can rest now. It is finally time for summer and that is truly something to celebrate. Until summer classes start...
