Let me just start out by saying that you are not alone in this.

The last two weeks in a semester are undeniably crazy. We are all struggling to stay on top of our classes, finishing our homework assignments, projects, all the while studying for finals. It's hectic; Maybe we don't show it but inside, we feel it.

It's times like these that make you feel like you are the only person going through all this stress. It's hard to imagine that someone else is going through the same thing as you are, but they are. For example, you might be a great at writing an essay for English class, but struggle to remember different math equations for Precalculus. Chances are, you might have a friend or classmate that excels at math, but writing isn't their forte. We're all different. We all have our own talents and skills that are never the same for two people.

I recently read a commencement speech that Danny Elfman gave in 2007 for an extra credit assignment. Surprisingly it resonated with me and I think this might help those that might need some words of encouragement.

In his speech to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Elfman shared his journey as to how it led him to become a leading film composer. I don't want to go into too much detail and I'll leave a link to the speech at the end of this article, but here's his main message: At times when you think that what you're doing now, whether you think it's beneficial or not, those experiences will help you in your future. You'll have some good times and bad times, but what you learn in your life will help you as you go forward in achieving your dreams.

So as our finals draw nearer, a lot of us will be tempted to wait on some assignments, pull back on some projects, but now is the time to take the ram by the horns and wrestle back. Now is the time to use that stress and emotion as rocket fuel. It may feel like everything is throwing curveballs at you, but instead of dodging them, catch them.

For the longest time, I personally have been dodging the same self-inflicted curveball. Sometimes it would bonk me on the head and lead me back onto the right track, but in a few days later, I would be straying away from the path again. But recently, as my curveball hurtled straight at me, I looked it in the eye, and caught it. Now I'm starting to take charge of it.

So when you wake up in the morning for the next week, say to yourself: Today, I'm going to catch my curveball. I'm going to finally take the ram by the horns. This stress I feel now is now my rocket fuel. Run with it. I was going to then say something inspirational as a sort of pick-me-up, but I know that there are some of you out there that don't want to hear that sort of thing. So instead, I'm going to quote something that I found on my social media feed that I think best suits this article:

I will pass my finals.

I will pass my classes.

I will not be defeated.

I will finish strong.

Good luck studying everyone and we can do it!

Danny Elfman's 2007 Commencement Speech: http://tmichaelmartin.tumblr.com/post/113423325773...