Let me just get right to the point. Finals week sucks. Dead week sucks. The influx of assignments and tests sucks. This article isn't to point out the obvious or make you dread these next few weeks even more, but rather, I hope it encourages you to put your best foot forward.

Yes, finals week tests us physically, emotionally (I've been known to break out in tears in the library), and of course, mentally. However, it's times like these that we have to push on and run the race mightily. God did not give us our brains and allow us the privilege of going to college for us to waste it. Though now is the most stressful time of the semester, don't fret! You can do this! Everything we have learned this semester has led up to now. Every class, every homework assignment, every quiz, every test, every late night in the library has all led up to now.

I am actually a firm believer that "dead week" is worse than finals week. Dead week sees the stress of finals week looming in the distance, while also having to keep up with class and homework for the week (unless you're lucky enough not to have any, of course). However, this is also the time for the most self-reflection. This is the week where you can evaluate what you liked about the past semester, and what you want to do differently in the future. This is the week that you can learn more about self-discipline than at any other point in the semester, and you can also expect to spend all of your free time in the library in order to prepare for (and ace) your exams. While all of this sounds bad (and is) it's going to be OK! Like I said, God did not give you your big, wonderful, beautiful mind to let you give up when you are so close to the end.

If you are a freshman, you are probably amazed that your first year of college could fly by so fast. If you're a senior, you are probably counting down the last few days until graduation and are also a little sad that it's all over. Just like that. If you're somewhere in the middle, you're probably just trying to make it to the next year. All of that is perfectly understandable and I get it. However, don't lose sight of your goals and dreams by getting caught up in the anti-finals week hype. Run and finish the race strong. Sprint to the end, don't crawl! You can do it!

In two weeks all of the stress will be over and you can breathe a deep sigh of relief for the next three months. So keep going. You can do this!