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A Phase-By-Phase Breakdown Of Finals Season, As Told By A College Student

If anyone needs me, I'll be crying in the corner.

Teylor Veliotis

Dec 02, 2019

Fordham University

142

A Phase-By-Phase Breakdown Of Finals Season, As Told By A College Student

Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash

Picture what your worst nightmare looks like. That's a pretty good representation of what finals season is.

1. The calm before the storm

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Everything's going fine and I'm not stressed out! I'm relaxed … too relaxed.

2. The deadline avalanche

… And then, once I finally feel at ease, the dates of all the exams and papers and projects I have to do hit me like a ton of bricks. It's almost as if all the professors got together and decided to drop all of these deadlines on us at the same time.

3. Denial

I'll tell myself it's not that bad and that there's nothing to stress over because I'll be able to get everything done. Seriously, it's fine–these exams will not be as hard as they seem and these papers are practically going to write themselves!

4. A sudden (and brief) wave of motivation

Giphy

I'm feeling positive and ready to get down to business! Let's whip out the textbooks and head to the library because I'm ready.

5. Procrastination sets in

… and all the drive that I had to get all this done just flew out the door. I guess it's time to start a new show!

6. The catch-up game

Of course, since I've been focused on studying and working on papers and projects, I haven't been able to spend any time on the actual homework readings and other mini assignments for my classes. Now it's time to play a little game of catch-up.

7. R.I.P. sleep schedule

Giphy

Sleep Deprivation? Yeah, I know her all too well. I'm lucky if I get only a couple of hours of shut-eye a night. I'm also starting to think I'm a nocturnal animal.

8. Moving into the library

If anyone needs me, I'll be camped out in a desolate part of the library for the next week and a half. You can send all my mail there and food drop-offs would be greatly appreciated!

9. The Finals Week Breakdown™

Giphy

Morale is low and sleep deprivation is high. I can feel it coming: the breakdown that comes with the hell that is finals season. Suddenly, I'm hit with an anxiety attack and a strange idea to transform my hair. Don't mind me while I curl up into a little ball and cry my stress away.

10. Living on iced coffee and stale chips from the vending machine

Who has time to go out to get groceries and make actual food? If I have one more sip of caffeine I may bounce all over the walls of the library and pee my pants, simultaneously.

11. Nap along to get along

Any free time I get that I'm not spending on finals-related material–which is (spoiler alert!) barely any time at all–I'm spending napping.

12. Another (mini) breakdown

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The last two brain cells I have left are fighting with each other. Give me a quick five-minute break so I can cry underneath my desk and reason with them.

13. Showtime

The time has finally come to put all this hard work to use–this what I've slaved away for!

14. The crash

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Before I'm even able to process the fact that I just took an exam or handed in a paper or project I worked dozens of hours, let me fall into a quick coma to gain back some hours of sleep.

15. Sweet relief

The fact that finals season has come to an end slowly starts to set in–I am finally free.

16. … Realizing you’ll have to relive this in a matter of months

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Live, love, college!

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A Phase-By-Phase Breakdown Of Finals Season, As Told By A College Student

If anyone needs me, I'll be crying in the corner.

1. The calm before the storm

2. The deadline avalanche

3. Denial

4. A sudden (and brief) wave of motivation

5. Procrastination sets in

6. The catch-up game

7. R.I.P. sleep schedule

8. Moving into the library

9. The Finals Week Breakdown™

10. Living on iced coffee and stale chips from the vending machine

11. Nap along to get along

12. Another (mini) breakdown

13. Showtime

14. The crash

15. Sweet relief

16. … Realizing you’ll have to relive this in a matter of months

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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