Brace yourselves: finals are coming.
For freshmen, finals week can be incredibly nerve-racking and scary, as the entire outcome of the semester hangs in the balance. As a way to help first-years push to the brighter (albeit colder) days after exams. Here is some advice on how to make your finals as easy as possible.
Atmosphere can make all the difference.
Find a quiet place to study. Unless you’re a psychic, dorm life can be tough at times since it’s kind of hard to predict the actions of your roommates and others around you. Relocate to a place of your desired level of comfort, and lose yourself in your notes.
If silence isn’t your thing, music is also a great way to keep yourself locked in on your studies. However, the choice of what to listen to is important, as Taylor Swift is more likely to pull you away from your calculus textbook than Mozart would.
There are studies that show instrumental music, whether it be classical pieces or film scores, are more beneficial when it comes to maintaining focus, so search your favorite composer on Spotify and give them a shot. My personal recommendation would be listening to John Williams’ score for “E.T.” It might make you cry, in my case, many times, but it’s always a good choice.
Be willing to put your well-being first.
Sometimes, pulling an all-nighter may be necessary, but that doesn’t mean you should make a habit out of it. Running on nothing but fumes, stress and Starbucks is probably one of the worst things you can do to your body and mind, so take the time to recharge.
Physical activity can release the tension being built up in your mind, so take some time to jog, lift weights or play Wii Fit, if that’s your thing.
The Markin Recreation Center will be open around the clock during finals week, so take advantage of the extra gym time and sweat out your stress.
Live a little!
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is one of my favorite movies for many reasons: it’s fun, it’s quotable and its message, which is pretty much the 80’s way of saying “YOLO,” is important for people of all ages to keep in mind.
Finals are tough, and they’ll easily drive you crazy, but they shouldn’t dominate every aspect of your being. Set aside time to do what you love most, and remind yourself that it’s okay to have fun in between study sessions.
Never be afraid to ask for help.
One of the great things about living in a university setting is that there’s a plethora (Word of the Day) of resources that students can use to their advantage.
If you’re struggling with a certain subject and are in need of immediate help, the Center for Learning Assistance offers two hours of free tutoring per week for all students. Also, Bradley Health Services provides counseling if you just need to talk to someone.
Friends, roommates and classmates are also great support networks. If you’d like, try organizing a study group or invite people over for a review session. You don’t have to go through finals alone, so reach out to someone, and take on the challenge together.
Lastly, always remain confident.
It’s easy to be discouraged during finals week when the amount of work you have starts to sink in, the things that you went over in class earlier this year become a blur and that little voice inside your head starts to worry by saying things like “There’s no way I can remember all this” or “I’m not going to make it to the end.”
Simply put, that little voice is wrong.
There may be moments where you feel that the work you’re putting in isn’t enough, but I assure you that it is (unless it truly isn’t, in which, therefore, you’ll need to step it up). You’ve made it to this point in the year, so there’s no doubt that you’re capable of surviving anything college life will throw your way.
Don’t let finals discourage you; only let them motivate you. Remember that, and you’ll be just fine.
