I had always studied for tests throughout my K-12 education. I reviewed concepts, scanned over notes, and skimmed through the corresponding chapter in the textbook. However, nothing had prepared me for my first semester of finals in college.

Studying wasn't a different ballgame — it was an entirely different species.

I didn't get around to studying for finals until the weekend before them, as I had other assignments and exams all the way up until then. That's what led me to one of the most terrifying and not optimal forms of studying that exists — cramming in the library for about ten hours.

When I arrived at the library, I noticed that no matter how silently I walked through, everyone still looked up at me and stared. Naturally, I'm an anxious person, so this sparked a feeling of panic. I decided they must be so focused that any sound at all would pull them from their studies and distract them for however long there was a moving human near them.

I found a table to myself and opened up all of my books. Looking around, I saw that I was definitely not alone. All of the desks and tables were absolute chaos, which pages of notes spread in every direction. Some had pulled up whiteboards to write out math problems or definitions, with not a blank space to be seen.

Desperation had struck — hard.

Over the course of the ten hours, I crammed as much information into my head as possible. With only two breaks for tears, a couple of breaks to take laps around the library and a few sessions of burying my head in my hands in frustration, I felt like I had relearned as much as possible from the semester to get me through the finals.

And I did. I passed all of my classes.

And so, happy finals to all and to all a good break.