That dreaded week is upon us. As the semester hurtles towards an end we are all driven to experience an abnormally vast array of emotions in quick succession. Above all else, we often find ourselves overwhelmed and unequipped to cope with the profound feelings of loss that accompany us upon the completion of final examinations.
Hopefully, by laying out these five stages of exam week grief, I can help to build a framework of tools for understanding that can make us all better equipped to persevere through this time of turmoil. And of course, what better way to demonstrate these stages than employing the help and experience of some of our most flawed, favorite, and all-too-relatable television characters of all time?
Let's take a look, shall we?
1. Denial
— Michael Scott, "The Office"
We know these words are technically incorrect, yet the sentiment rings all too true. This stage lasts for a blissful few days before the official beginning of exam week, when you're still pretending that everything is okay. Of course, you'll do fine in that one course you've been to 3 times all semester, you looked up the main topics on Wikipedia once, didn't you?
2. Anger
— Trudy Wiegel, "Reno 911!"
This isn't the highest or lowest point of the week, but it does represent a unique stage of grief. You're doubting yourself, but only enough to fuel your feelings of personal injustice, and you're just far enough out of denial to begin realizing the extent of damage you've done to your grades, but not so far out of it that you can't keep blaming others for your mistakes. Is it just me, or is this kind of the grieving sweet spot?
3. Bargaining
— Chris Traeger, "Parks and Recreation"
This stage represents that time in the week when you inexplicably begin making tiny deals with the universe in order to cope with stress, but then break most of them anyway. You can still fix this though...as long as you don't cry before noon again.
4. Depression
— Tracy Jordan, "30 Rock"
This moment may sink in as the person proofreading your final essay asks you to explain one of the concepts referenced throughout it. Or when a classmate asks for your notes covering a time period you didn't know existed. No matter how it comes about, this stage represents that crucial moment when your exam confidence is suddenly shattered.
5. Acceptance
— Mr. Peanutbutter, "Bojack Horseman"
Some may refer to this stage as "giving up," but you don't see the point in having that kind of negative attitude now that exams are officially over. Your only job now is to sit back and enjoy those blissful few days of sheer, unabashed ignorance before final grades are due.
