College life is glamorized in every aspect; the hookup culture, alcoholism, and lack of sleep become normalized when one thinks of college. Finals week usually means drinking an absurd amount of coffee and jamming so much information in your brain that you don't know who you are after the week is over. While it's important to study and do well on your finals, it's also equally important to get enough sleep and to eat real food, not just Starbucks.

If you're extremely stressed out and it's taking a toll on your mental health, remember this: your grade in your chemistry class doesn't dictate how intelligent you are or how successful you are going to be in life. So often we confine ourselves to numbers when we are much more than quantitive. We are all a part of the Earth and uniquely complicated; our capabilities can't be defined by a number or even to an academic setting. Don't let one class make you forget your dreams or question your purpose. Don't let any class defeat the love for yourself or your love for learning.

Remember to practice self-care during this busy time. Schedule time for yourself this week and for every other week in the year. Take a hot bath, read a book that wasn't assigned to you and express your creativities outside the scope of academics. Eat some fruit and drink plenty of water; nourishing your body will lead to a refreshed mind. Do some yoga if you find that you can't relax and invite others to do it with you. Just do something simple that puts your mind at ease for a while. Those mental breaks matter.

Take care of yourself this finals week and take full advantage of winter break. You too deserve some rest, regardless of your G.P.A.