As semester finals are fast approaching, students begin the process of preparing. Some procrastinate as their preparation, others cram, some overdo it, and some don't do anything. Coming back from a week long Thanksgiving break and straight into two weeks of last minute projects, essays, and exams is about as overwhelming as it can get in college. These two weeks not only test our mental capacity on the classes we've been taking all semester, but our emotional capacity of balancing relationships, priorities, family, and our personal endurance.

One thing I've learned about finals is the absolute necessity of having the right people during the wrong week. The week shows your weaknesses, your insecurities, your state of mind, and how you do under pressure. Because of this, it takes the right people to walk with you through it. To be the voices of reason and laughter, and to have understanding hearts and eyes as they see the not-so-pleasant side of you. Which if we're being honest, we try to suppress all throughout the semester.

Finals week: when everything comes out of the woodwork.

And we should be grateful that it does.

Even though this week includes being stressed to the max (even if you never admit it), it can be a week of building stamina you never knew you had. It shows the importance of having some of the best people in your life and making time for them, even if you don't have enough time for yourself. During college, friendships come and go, but finals week is one of those weeks where it becomes crystal clear who your real friends are. The ones that are consistently present and intentionally included.

Having been through quite a few finals weeks, I readily have a list of friends that are on call. Those who are in my life now I might not have had last finals week and I might not have the next time around, but they're here now and that's what matters. Never neglect the importance of these individuals. They're going to be the ones you might have for the rest of your life all because of "that one finals week during blank year." Finals week will be the week of pulling all-nighters in the library, eating fast food and chocolate because it's what makes you feel better--going to your best friend's house at 2 in the morning and talking all night about everything BUT finals, even when you have one at 8am. They'll bring your confidence to the surface, they'll make you belly laugh so hard when you're taking it all too seriously, and they'll give you ice cream and turn on your favorite song when you have a mental breakdown and want to drop out and give up.

Ultimately, we should be grateful for the wrong week because it shows us the right people our lives need. The ones we cherish and those we should keep close way before and long after the wrong week.