Finals week is finally upon us. The most dreaded week and a half of every college student. The one week that everyone thinks is so far away during syllabus week then it seems like it comes out of nowhere. In other words, it’s a really bad illness that always comes back and never goes away until you graduate. If finals weeks was a prescription, here are some of the warnings that would be labelled on the bottle. Side effects include:
Caffeine dependency:
Instead of blood running through your veins, caffeine pumps through. Before, caffeine is commonly used as a way to wake up but during finals week, it is an entirely different story. College students run on caffeine like their entire life depends on it.
Sleep deprivation:
It’s not sleep, they’re sporadic naps that may last longer than others. If you get the normal amount of sleep, you're either a genius or finals aren’t something that are a priority to you. Whenever one can find a time to sleep, it doesn’t matter the location. Walk into the library in the early hours of the morning and I can guarantee you will find someone asleep under the table.
Continuous mood swings:
One moment you feel like joy and happiness and then the next, you’re having a mental breakdown in the library. Personally, I try to avoid the library during finals week and will find anywhere else to study, but when I do go into the library, I always breakdown.
Emotional support of animals:
Dogs are already a comforting source, but during finals week, the companionship and loving of a dog in necessary. Unfortunately, I do not own a dog so if you are like me, study breaks consist of going over to friends’ houses who own dogs or taking a trip to your local dog pound or PetSmart.
Contemplating life decisions:
You are lying if you say you or someone you know has never googled “Careers that don’t involve a college career.” or “Is a college degree necessary?”
Feelings of nostalgia:
Is it actually studying if you don’t look at your pictures of freshman year or every picture you have ever taken in college more than once? Looking back at times from tailgate or a weekend out are much more enjoyable than having to face the reality of studying for a final. Without fail, you or one of your friend will say “Oh my god!! That was so much fun” or “Aw look at how young we looked!!” Warning: Wishing you were a freshman will happen again.
Once the side effects of this "illness” goes away, we are reminded that college continues to be some of the best years of our life.
