Dear students,

It is that wonderful time of year again! Yes, that's right. I'm referring to finals week! That warm, blissful time of year full of headaches, strained eyes, sleepless nights, too much coffee, and crippling paranoia.

If you feel the least bit stressed, it's okay. You have the right. The good part is that you're not alone. No matter how old you are, taking final exams is intimidating. I know that you cannot wait for that stress to dwindle away, to be able to put down those books and relax for a long winter break. I understand how you feel. That's the way I'm feeling too.

I want you all to remember something though. Despite all of the anxiety that you may have felt throughout the semester, look how far you have come! Whether your grades look promising or not, you are still pushing through every day. I am so proud of all of you for your hard work and perseverance.

Our educational system is strict now. Students are given homework that takes them several hours to complete. As much as I value my education, I don't think that coming home to at least six hours worth of homework is healthy for anybody. I've had so many adults that told me they never heard of such a thing, doing homework for that long. Some students even get homework on the weekends. For me, that is the common occurrence. We live in an age in which the grade values seem to matter more than the actual learning experience itself and that isn't right.

When you all move into finals week, after hours of studying and preparation, know that I am rooting for you. We all need to stand together and not let our stress get in the way of what we can achieve. Go into those exams with your heads held high and pat yourselves on the back once and a while. Remind yourselves that the grades you get don't define you as a person. Most importantly, try your best. There is no greater disappointment than quitting before allowing yourself to have the chance to succeed.

I wish all of you the best of luck and I hope you have a relaxing holiday.