It’s that time of year again. The time to reunite with your family and friends to celebrate the holidays. A time for giving; the best part of living. Celebrating with people we hold dear to us. Before we get to embrace and bask in the most wonderful time of the year the college student has one final task. We have to get through Satan’s gauntlet otherwise known as finals week.

This is a week where even the strongest students can fall short. The twist and turns that finals week throws at you are forever changing. You may think you have it all figured out, but trust me the stress will get to you. Don’t get discouraged though, we go through this week twice year. If you happen to be a freshman and this is your first go around, you better learn fast my friend. Because finals week is an and unforgiving and merciless enemy to the college student. You have your supplies ready your “study candy," your coffee, your study guide (if you were lucky enough to have an instructor to bless you with a study guide), and you had your last good night of sleep. Because when it comes to this week sleep is but a distant memory. An old friend that you once knew well. You might want to try and get a spot at the library early because if you show up late thinking you’ll find a place to study you might as well just sit on the floor. There’s always a mid point in the week where you are able to walk past a mirror and come to finally see what you have become. Your eyes are sagging, your hair is a mess, and you in general look like you have been mugged. You have been mugged by the academic institution of America. What makes you feel better on the inside is that you cross paths with people all week who look just like you. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. So get together in groups. Break that awkward silence barrier. Reach out to a fellow classmate and ask if they want to study or simply just drop out together. If you have been blessed with misfortune and your instructor decides to make the exam cumulative. You are going to be in a fight for your life when it comes to studying. The only thing people really eat during this week is minimal nourishment. Just enough to keep the engine running, and coffee. All the coffee. You need it to survive. When all is said and done and you reach the end point of finals your bed will be there. No matter what your grades are. That bed will be there to comfort you. All of our worries will be over soon. We will get to go home and enjoy our holidays. We will see the sun again. We just need to make it through this finals week that is knocking on the door.

In all seriousness, study hard and do your best. Good luck on your finals.