Finals season is upon us and everyone is stressed to maximum levels. Whether you have the biggest biochem final of your life coming up or this is your very first college final ever, we’re all feeling the pressure. So often in college, our lives become wrapped around the classes we are taking and the grades we receive. Finals is the time of year where this becomes especially true, which can be overwhelming for a lot of us. Here are a few things to remember while you’re studying in the library all week.

1. Your grade does not define you.

Yes, the grade determines whether you pass or fail the class and can seem like the defining factor in your life right now. But this grade does not determine whether you are a good person, it does not diminish your kindness, your zest, or your value. After the test you are still the same person you were before, don’t let a score out of 100 define how you view yourself.

2. Giving up one week of going out or watching netflix will be SO worth it.

While your grade does not define you as a person, it is a big deal to try to pass all of your classes. Afterall, you are paying thousands of dollars to take them and nobody likes to retake a class they hated the first time. So, buckle down, say no to the invites, and take yourself to the library to really focus on studying and getting the grades you want.

3. Just because your finals are hard does not mean you get to sh*t on someone else’s classes.

Yes, writing a huge lab report or studying for a 200 question chem final is going to be extremely difficult and time consuming. However, the art major that you think is so lucky is also working to complete final projects that consume just as much of their time and energy. Accept that everyone is stressing during this time and sh*tting on someone else’s work is not going to make yours any easier.

4. Finally, take a breath!

Finals will be over in a week or two and then you will get to relax and enjoy winter break. Realize that the stress of finals will be over as soon as you put your pencil down for that last test or submit that last huge essay. Once these few tough weeks are over you will have a few weeks to relax, enjoy the holiday season, and catch up on the countless hours of sleep that you lost. This semester will be over soon and that is something we can all be thankful for.