It happens, twice a year, and it is something that cannot be avoided...finals. Everyone hates them: they cause mental breakdowns (probably more than one), and no one gets any sleep. The reality of finals, though, is no matter how many times you've taken them, the stages of finals is basically the same.

1. The "I'm Going To Make An 'A' On Every Final" Stage

This stage lasts around five seconds; if you're smart and confident then maybe thirty seconds. Most people go through this stage when you first realize finals are rolling around. You're on this "finals high" and you think to yourself "hey, I can so do this!" Then reality sinks in and you quickly laugh this thought off and move onto to the next stage.

2. The "I'm Going to Actually Study And Maybe I'll Pass" Stage

This stage can go one or two ways. One way is you could actually study for one or two finals, then realize you have three or four more left to study for and you are completely over it. OR you can actually study and then have something more interesting come up like: Instagram, your friends planned something fun, food, leaves falling from a tree, etc..

3. The "Briefly Look Over It" Stage

This is personally my favorite stage. This is the stage where we basically say "I have been in this class for a semester, so I basically know what is going to be on the test." LOL, wrong. But it is the only logical way to fit in enough time to study for every class, get a decent amount of sleep, and have time to be distracted (because you HAVE to calculate time for that. #ithappens).

4. The "I Am Having A Mental Breakdown" Stage

This stage can look a lot of different ways for a lot of different people. Some cry, some play video games, some go to Taco Bell to drown their studying attempts in tacos. Whatever this looks like to you, it is not fun and basically you are at your breaking point. You either end your studying session, probably at 2 a.m., in a lot of tears or food.

5. The "THANK GOD IT IS OVER" Stage

This stage, of course, comes at the end of this dreadful week. You have finally finished all of your finals, and are probably heading home! At this point, who really cares what the heck you made on your finals- at least you finished taking them and you're still alive. That alone is something to celebrate and be proud of.

Since this dreadful time of the year is quickly approaching, best of luck. Here's me hoping for you that studying goes well, Instagram is full of interesting things for you to scroll through, your bank account as at least $10 for Taco Bell, and that you pass all of your finals (because at least passing is the goal). Go knock em dead.