We are at that point of the semester where everyone is sick, every class has an exam this week, and you probably have a paper or four to work on. Everyone is crazy stressed, your best friend is probably foaming at the mouth, blankly staring at notes that they haven’t turned the page for in the last hour, and we find ourselves conveying jealousy over the squirrels running free on campus. It’s not like they have midterms to worry about, or student loans. They don’t even have jobs. I find myself to be dragging my feet through some particularly deep mud this semester. I have three jobs, go to school full time, and I have my internship. I’m only ever home to sleep and my mind is racing in loops. I believe a lot of us college students are thinking the same thing right now.

1. Do I really need to go to class right now?

Yes. Yes you do. If you miss class, you miss notes. If you miss notes, you are unprepared. If you’re unprepared, you fail the exam, and if you do that you die. Except not really, but it sort of feels that way when you find yourself lagging behind. Save yourself the anxiety and mental breakdown. Go to class, get those notes, and ace that exam. Don’t make excuses for yourself to stay in your nice, warm bed. Sure, your hours of rest go up, but your GPA goes down real quick.

2. Do I really need to study?

Yes, a thousand times, yes. Do not even try having this debate with yourself. You need to study to do well, especially considering how expensive college is. If you’re not going to do well, why are you even here? You need to read the book, you need to look over your notes. Your professor does not care whether or not you pass or fail, they get paid no matter what. You need to do this for yourself. If you want to live a successful life, you need to start early. Success does not come easy and requires quite a bit of work. Put the work in.

3. Should I really be eating this?

Odds are if you are asking this question, the answer is probably not. College is a horrible time to try and diet because there are so many restaurants around campus and there’s ice cream. College is not the healthiest time for a lot of people, and that’s a problem. However, a bowl of ice cream or a late night run to Taco Bell is not going to kill you. Eat the damn taco and get back to work. You can go to the gym when finals are over.

4. Oh look, a university vehicle. Would be a shame if it were to hit me.

Don’t get hit by a university vehicle. I know it’s tempting, I think about it each time I cross the crosswalk at my school. The pain of being hit by a car is probably not worth the benefits that come with it. You’ll be fine.

5. Is this semester over yet?

Not quite, in fact, it just started. However, it will go by quick and before you know it you’ll be repeating all these questions and phrases as finals approach. Stop wishing your semesters away and enjoy the time you have with your friends, get your studies done, and eat that pizza. It’s all going to be worth it in the end. You’ll make it through the semester, I promise.