With finals season in full swing on college campuses across the country, there's a good chance that you've passed a student on the street with a particular look of deadness in their eyes; this is nothing to be alarmed about, though. It's just a result of the pressure to do well on a test worth at least 15% of their final grade. With all of the emotions that are involved, it's a wonder how college students can survive finals week twice a year. Today, I'm going to explain the 6 emotional stages that students go through during this highly stressful time.
Stage 1: Denial
This occurs in the weeks leading up to finals; you pretend that everything is fine and tell yourself that, no, you don't need to start studying that soon. So you keep watching your Netflix shows, going out with friends and just try to enjoy yourself.
Stage 2: Guilt
Usually, this stage occurs right as you realize that your first final is mere days away. You wonder where the time went and then remember that the nights you had set aside for "studying" turned into group outings with your friends. This is when you start to mentally kick yourself for not putting more effort in sooner; this is also when the cramming really begins.
Stage 3: Anger
This is the point when every college student begins to angrily question everything; why did I wait so long to study? Why do exams even exist? You know, the ones that really can't be answered. It's frustrating knowing that one test is worth so much of your grade, but it's so close to summer you can't be bothered with learning one more thing.
Stage 4: Desperation
After getting angry at yourself and at the fact that your university forces finals upon you, you get desperate: for sleep, for a photographic memory, or for days to magically have a few extra hours. And then, when you realize that none of these things will happen, you just get sad.
Stage 5: Exhaustion
This sets in after an exam or two, and it sticks with you until you've put your pencil down for the last time during your last test. You find yourself wondering if there's any way to study while you're sleeping, and then remember that a device hasn't been invented for that yet.
Stage 6: Relaxation (at last)
There is no better feeling than the one that you get when everything is finally done with. Sure, you could have failed every single exam and every single class, but at least you have the summer off! That has to count for something, right?
