As the semester draws to a close, the dreaded time grows near: Finals. The mere mention of the words "Exam" and "Final" strike fear into the hearts of students everywhere. Not to mention, people change around this time. You thought you knew your friends, but you can't truly say that until you've seen how they handle caffeine overdose and extreme stress levels. So without further ado, here's a handy guide to some students you might see around this time:
The Dweller
These students aren’t here to play games. They reserve study rooms in the library for days at a time and turn it into their own little apartment. There’s a corner filled with empty coffee cups and chip bags, another with a sleeping bag and pillows, and the rest is what I can only describe as what it would look like if an Office Max exploded. These students can be found sporting color coated notes, extensive study guides, and the coffee jitters.
The Defeated
These are the students who put off all of their work until the very last minute, and now it's cram time. Unfortunately, this leaves them a mere husk of their former selves, as they have signed their souls away in return for the ability to stay awake for a week straight. *disclaimer: they will get it back, but only just in time for grades to come out. It is a cruel sort of irony*
The Zombie
The zombies are a strange breed who only appear toward the end of the semester, some of them might even be your friends. And where are they the rest of the time, you may ask? Who knows, but they most certainly aren’t in class. While there might be brief sightings throughout the semester, it’s during exam time that they are out in force and they want your brains… kind of. They walk around looking like they’re dead inside, asking for your class notes, old tests and quizzes, and study guides. A word to the wise: if they want to “study together,” say no or you’ll end up teaching them the whole semester.
The Bragger
These students are the few chosen ones who somehow managed to squeeze through while having only two exams. Could they just be happy for themselves and mind their own business? Absolutely. Will they? Of course not. They’ll make sure you know that they have less work than you, and can be often spotted distracting other from their work because they're bored.
The Could-Not-Care-Less
The degree to which these students no longer cares is absolutely astounding. They have been beaten down past the level of “The Defeated,” to the point that their only wish is for these two hell weeks to end. They have stared into the abyss and the abyss stared back, it is too late for them. *insert Mockingjay whistle here*
The Animal
Touchy at the best of times, downright violent at the worst. These students have gone above and beyond normal stress levels and have lost all sense of reason. You worry for their sanity, but unless you’re bringing a new pack of pens or maybe more paper, do not approach. This creature only leaves its study habitat to get food and coffee, which is most likely the only time you will see them. Be warned: if you ask them to take a break, do so at your own risk. They might bite your head off.
In conclusion, everybody handles stress differently. The real goal is to study hard, but take breaks to do other things when you can, moderation is key. With that, I wish you all the best of luck during exams!
all images courtesy of google
