Many college students dread the words final exams. It's like a paralyzing reminder that you have tons of deadlines and exams coming up and it feels like the world is crashing down on you.

The best part of going through this part of the year over and over is that you learn a few things. While finals may feel like the end of the world, it really isn't.

The truth is that finals are just a test, not just for a class, but for the real world after graduation. The real world is full of stressful surprises like getting sick and having to pay for a trip to the doctor's office. Of course there's always the expected stress that is due at the first of every month along with that nice and friendly bill for water and electricity due just after the rent. Where do they expect you to get all this money?!

On top of all those wonderful bills you've also got a real job and are no longer a student bound by the safety net of a semester. Work doesn't stop. Holidays -- what are those? Birthday, music festivals, spring break? Forget about those, you've got deadlines to meet and projects to finish all year long.

Next time you're sitting in your dorm, apartment or cubicle in the library losing your mind about what chapters you should and shouldn't go over -- just remember that it's not that bad. Once finals week is over you get to go home and spend the holiday season with family and friends. The two weeks of decompression and sleep are worth the hours of anguish that you are feeling.

Study hard for your upcoming Chemistry, History or English exams but remember --you're still young and in school having a really great time just being a college student. You knew finals would be stressful but just like the painful process of graduating high school and applying for college was -- this part is necessary. Now get off the Internet and go back to studying.