Have the last couple of weeks been leaving you feeling drained? In December, time seems to fly by and take all of our energy with it. Most people are winding down, buying gifts, and getting excited for the upcoming holidays. However, the average college student is usually spending this time preparing for finals.

We're all trying to write those last few papers, clock in enough study hours, and finish up those lingering assignments we wished we hadn't ignored. This can be a pretty stressful time.

Personally, I haven't completely survived this semester's final season just yet. As I write this, I still have one more final to complete in just a few short hours. With the stress of all my final assignments this semester, I've begun to notice that the holidays feel a little different than they have in previous years. After talking with a few of my friends, I realized this is a common problem among college students.

Growing up, this month became dedicated to the holidays. Everyone was focused on what gifts to buy for each of their friends and who they'd hang out with over break. It's also not uncommon for schools below the collegiate level to slow down their teaching around the holidays. Even my younger brother, who is in high school, hasn't had an actual lesson in class since the first week in December.

When we were young, we were given the luxury of only worrying about the holidays during this time of year, but as adults, we have to worry about so much more. College is one of the first times this really starts to hit us.

It makes sense that this time of year feels different for us. However, with finals coming to an end, it's time we allow ourselves to get into the holiday spirit. At the end of the day, no exam is more important than the time you'll spend making memories with your family and friends.