“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26
One thing that college students across the globe universally hate is those last three weeks of the semester. This is when final projects, final exams, and final grade adjustments are due. It is the terrifying final culmination of all of the learning we did or were supposed to have done over the semester.
As a college senior, I have a few tips for navigating finals week in college and the weeks leading up to it. Some of these are tips I learned from other students or mentors. Others are things I learned the hard way when staying up all night and trying to finish the assignments I didn’t plan for correctly. I vowed never to do that again, and I want to help you never have to do that again.
Table of Contents:
Break Down Your Tasks
You know how you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. While I don’t want anyone taking any chomps out of these gentle giants, the concept is clear. We are often given large, intimidating projects to complete during finals week. While we all know that we are not supposed to leave the completion of major projects to the night before they are due, it happens to us college students more often than we admit. This is because we have other projects due sooner that we work on, which makes sense. However, if you can devote twenty minutes a day to this bigger, upcoming project, it will make the task less intimidating the day before it is due. Additionally, putting mini-milestones into your daily calendar and to-do list is a great idea. It also helps make the task less intimidating.
Ask for Clarification, Always
The worst way to go into finals week is to get confused or have the wrong impression about any coursework or concepts. Throughout school, I’ve seen that the students who do the best with their academic projects and studies get their uncertainties resolved very early on. They do it either in the semester or soon after the work is assigned. This also lets your instructors know that you are working on projects in advance. Furthermore, this proactiveness is something that they will associate with your work as a student. Plus, if you need one of your professors to be a reference, it is easier for them to write one if you are curious and eager. It is difficult for them when you are just a face in a lecture. Overall, I have never regretted asking a professor a question, but I have regretted not asking one.
Give Yourself Time to Breathe
Lots of time, finals week is the period when all non-essentials of daily life, and sometimes the essentials, fall to the side. This happens as we cram for finals or assemble final papers and projects. However, we all function better on tasks, especially big ones, when fresh and well-rested, physically and mentally. If you think about it, you save time by allocating time for sleep because you are leaps and bounds more productive during studying. So, if you are looking for a sign not to pull that all-nighter or not skip making dinner, HERE IT IS. This also helps you avoid burnout during this crucial week. Breaking up your studying time with other activities can prevent your academics from becoming too overwhelming. Also, you’d be surprised how often ideas come to you when doing something else, like showering, eating, or cleaning.
Celebrate the Small Wins
As college students, it feels like we constantly submit essays, quizzes, exams, and discussion posts without end. Consequently, we often lack time to acknowledge a good score or praise before moving to the next assignment. Try to reflect on your accomplishments when you do something well! Get a lemonade from Chick-fil-A after you submit that 10-page research report! Text your bestie about that A you made on your most recent exam! By telling someone about your success or giving yourself a reward, you cement it in your mind. This helps reinforce that you accomplished something great, no matter how small others might perceive it.
Remember the Bigger Picture
While academics are important, they are only a small part of your life. College lasts four years, which isn’t even a fifth of your time on earth. You will do, see, and feel so much more beyond college years. You will likely forget about bad exam scores or writer’s block from university. Whenever you get too caught up in a project and feel that the world revolves around your grade, remember: it’s just a number. It’s a number in a sea of numbers. Ultimately, no one will see it, as your degree will matter when applying to jobs. Not the grade from that one project in that one class during that semester.
I hope these tips made you feel a bit less overwhelmed or that you have an idea of helping yourself be less stressed going forward. I wish you well, and remind you to get rest, eat, and hug your loved ones between study sessions this week.
It is the final push: you can do this!
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Until next time!
well done!