It’s that time of year folks! With about two weeks left of school, finals are quickly approaching. Freshmen are about to become sophomores, seniors are about to become fully free adults (or graduate students). The end of the year is truly a bittersweet time. We say goodbye to our friends and head off into summer where new jobs, internship, and classes begin. Summer is a time of new beginnings and opportunities. But, before any of that can even happen we have to face finals. Yeah, those dreaded tests that take your sleep away and turn you into a zombie for a week. The short two hour test that measures about four to five months’ worth of material all in about 100 questions or less. This is hardly a new concept for us, we have been administered lengthy tests for as long as standardized testing has been around. The best way to survive this dreaded time is to empathize with everyone else in the same boat. While sharing a coffee break with a friend or sharing study notes, remember: "Family Guy" understands your pain too.
1. The first hurdle is acceptance. We have to accept that finals are coming and no one can do anything to stop them (except professors of course, keep praying guys). During finals are schedules are so jam-packed we don’t have time to be healthy. We fall deeper and deeper into comfortable, lumpy chairs for hours at a time and eat the most convenient, tasty food – pizza. Say goodbye to that summer body, it’s going to have to wait just one more week.
2. Now, I am only using this as a metaphor. Peter is you, the small child is your brain. We all experience late night writer's block, or periods when our brains just decide to turn off. It’s a little frustrating, but take a walk in the park and everything hopefully will become more clear.
3. There is not enough time in the day to do everything. But keep your head high!
4. The funniest feeling is when you emerge from the library or your room to go to the bathroom, get some sleep, or grab food and it feels like the whole world has shifted. “Has that tree always been cut down, has Sally always been dating Eric?”
5. And then, with long periods of isolation comes awkwardness. “Have I always forgotten how to speak clearly?” It’s like all the information you have been cramming about anatomy and the Columbian Exchange has taken over the language and speech pathways of your brain.
6. When all your finals are done, Jesus takes the wheel (or the front basket). Hope can only extend so far, praying begins to be a new hobby. “I hope all those all-nighters made a difference”.
7. Whatever the results of your test, remember you are amazing. You made it through one disastrous week and could very well end up crashing into a cupboard like Peter along the way, but life is full of ups and downs.
