Hey guys.

So, the dreaded time of year is upon us: finals week.

The days have come where we're going to need extra caffeine, lots of prayers and a ton of motivation. We aren't going to get much sleep; we'll probably have a few breakdowns that may end in tears, and we're most definitely going to stress-eat and procrastinate.

I'm here to let you know that amidst all of the stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and everything else that comes with this week, everything is going to be okay. There is more to life than going to the brink of exhaustion to study for that exam (or six...like me...hahahaha). It's important to try your best, but don't go overboard. I know, I know, I'm one to talk. I probably won't take this advice because the pressures of finals week are astronomical and it's so hard to relax and take a breather.

You can do this.

Just think, within the next two weeks or so, you'll be free. No more 8ams for at least 3.5 months. No more exams, projects or homework to worry about. You can be back home with your dog (or cat, or fish, or whatever animal you love), enjoy home-cooked meals, and see your high school best friends that you've been missing for months.

Yea, college is hard. Yes, it's fun, too, but it's hard. This week especially tests us in a lot of ways. It's a week we all dread and hate.

I have six lovely (sense the sarcasm?) finals in the course of four days, with three of those scheduled on the same day. One of my professors told us that our final takes about 6-8 hours on average, and some people take up to 15. It's a simulation game online where we have to run a company by ourselves. Great. Thanks. Hahahaha gotta love college!!!!

Hell week is upon me, and it's upon all of us. I don't know why our professors have to bombard us with all of this work at the time when our minds are completely checked out and we're all ready for summer. I wish final exams, presentations, essays, and projects didn't exist. They're just so unnecessary. We've put in so much all semester and now we have to give that all a go once more.

The way I'm looking at it is, in a week and a half I won't ever have to live in a dorm ever again (hooray for apartments!!!), I can go back to my mom's cooking, I can cuddle with my incredible puppy again, I can hug my best friends from back home, I can sleep, and I can sit down and do NOTHING again. I can enjoy my lake house, jet skis, pontoon boat, and spend time with friends and family. I get to go abroad in just a few short months- something I've been waiting to do my entire life. But very soon, I will finally get to relax, something I haven't really been able to do since last August (thx college).

Soon enough, we'll all be baking in that beautiful, warm sun somewhere on a beach. We'll be enjoying piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris. We'll be driving around with the windows down and blasting country music. These are all things I'm so eager to be able to do and I'm so excited for it.

Summer's the best time of year. Guys, we are so so so close. We can all do this. I know these next two weeks or so are going to be really painful, but, just think, the end result is so much greater. So, I just wanted to give you a reminder that everything is going to be okay, you're all wonderful, you're gonna do great things in life, and don't stress out too much this week.

May the odds ever be in your favor.