Finals week is very dreaded among college students. It is the home stretch, but obstacles like stress, burnout and the excitement of going home make finals week a long one. It seems like every teacher has waited until the final two weeks of college to cram everything in at once. Final exams are all over the place with little time in between each final to study and prepare for the next. As a first-time, full-time college student on campus, I’m going to try and give some pre-final tips to help upcoming college students not be so stressed over finals.
Whether you are going to a college campus or taking online classes, it is crucial to stay on top of things. Starting out the year, it often looks like it won’t cause too much damage to miss a class or skip an assignment, but slowly you can find yourself getting into a habit of this. When finals come around, you’ll be playing catch-up just to make up points in hopes to barely pass the class. So in order to stay on top, set aside specific times of the day to study or do homework. It might seem silly, but doing this is really beneficial. Not only do you get homework done, but the earlier you do the homework, the more time you have later on in your day to do other things. Or if you are sick, you’ll have already done assignments so you have the time to rest and get better.
Take breaks. Cramming everything into one study session can be exhausting and irritating. Especially for those that can’t sit still all the time. Try to work on things for an hour and then go take an hour break doing something productive. Getting on your phone is not productive. Maybe do some chores, go for a walk, go to the store and get a treat — something to get your body moving again. Then after your break, go back to studying.
Find a quiet spot. Finding the “studying spot” can really get you in the right mindset. Try not to be in your bed or on the couch as that will lead to temptations to fall asleep. If you are taking online classes, do homework at a table in the dining room or desk in your room. You could even try to do homework at your high school’s library. Some good studying spots at Snow College include: the Huntsman Library, Graham Science Center, Humanities & Fine Arts Center, and Heritage Plaza. All these places are quiet, peaceful and full of sunlight. Try to set your phone aside to not get caught up in it. If you are someone who likes music, put on some light music as background noise.
These are some things that have helped me out to be prepared for finals week. As stressful and crazy finals are, they can be good because they mean it is time to go home and see family. Finals bring many things to many people’s lives and are the start of a path towards a career. Good luck to all you college students, and don’t let the fear of finals scare you away from your dreams!
– by Ari Hurdsman
Feature image caption: Ari Hurdsman, Kyle Olsen, Megan McLaws, and Nathan Howel smile for a picture after their study session. Courtesy of Ari Hurdsman.
Ari Hurdsman – Junction
Ari Hurdsman is a junior journalist at the Byway. She just recently moved to Ephraim, Utah, where she is a freshman at Snow College. She enjoys writing about Piute sports, and she’s really good at it! In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, reading and hanging out with friends and family.