It's that time of year again - students are suffering through the seemingly endless midterm exams at Oregon State. C'mon, a midterm is really scheduled for week nine? Really? And midterms just wouldn't be midterms without late night cramming at the library, lack of proper nutrition, and more than a few sleepless nights.
The stress of preparing for exams can have detrimental effects on the body, physically as well as mentally. The pressure placed on college students to perform well on exams can lead to mass amounts of psychological harm. It can negatively affect one's image of self-worth.
Students grow up being taught that performance on exams, grades, and GPA directly correlate to one's value to society. Education is a commodity, and grades are more valuable in the exchange than actual applied learning. Because of this, to earn poor grades -- whether consistent or just a single failed exam -- is viewed as the greatest failure a student could possibly make. Admittedly, this sting is even greater for college students who pay heaps of money for each class they take.
So, to students currently caught up in the ultimate stress of midterms, please remember that no matter how big of a deal it may feel at the time, receiving a bad grade on an exam is not the worst thing in the world, and it does not make you any less of a person.
Ask for help when you need it. Seek out tutors -- they are likely available in abundance on your campus! Ask for help from your professors, and don't be afraid to visit during their office hours. Visit your school's writing center, where students trained in peer tutoring can provide feedback during any stage of your writing process. And if you're feeling too overwhelmed by it all, pay a visit to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), or visit the Mind Spa.
Students all too often put off practicing habits of self-care, opting to study instead. Though they are certainly important and should be taken seriously, academics should not take priority over self-care and your own well-being.
Self-care can be as simple as taking breaks between study sessions -- do a few minutes of exercise, drink water or tea, have a snack, or treat yourself to one episode of your latest Netflix obsession (yes, that's right, one). Know your limits when studying.
Don't push yourself to stay up all night studying for a midterm -- get some sleep! Your body and mind will thank you.
This exam season, take time to remember that your grades do not define your worth. You are valuable and intelligent regardless of your academic performance. There are plenty more tests to take, but there is only one you, so take care of it well.
May your midterm weeks be successful and ever abundant with A's.
