It’s finals week for many college students. Finals week is full of hysteria, anxiety, stress, and so many other emotions that can cause any student to break down. Finals are literally the worst time of the semester. No one is safe from the chaos that is finals week! No one! Even if you know your grade is safe, you will still become a victim of the finals week madness. We all go through these certain stages during finals week.

Stage One: Realization

The semester has flown by! How have three months gone by so quickly? I’m not even sure where my textbook even is!

Stage Two: Blind Ambition

OK, I’m going to study nonstop until the exam! Nothing will stop the studying machine that is my brain. I can do this! Studying isn't even that hard.

Stage Three: Bewilderment

Wait, what is this? Is this even my class? We didn’t learn this! None of this makes sense. The professor is just messing with us right now.

Stage Four: Panic

There is no way I can remember all of this before the exam. This is impossible. I feel like I’m dying!

Stage Five: The Five-Day Break

I have studied enough (five minutes). I need a day off. There is nothing like Netflix marathons and pizza that can’t cure. I deserve this.

Stage Six: Realizing you haven’t done anything for five days

I am not prepared for this! Why did I waste all this time! I know nothing about my exams! I am doomed.

Stage Seven: I don’t know how to study

I only have 12 hours before this exam and I still know nothing. I don't even know what I don't know. I don’t even know how to study. Do I make cards? Do I just read the textbook? How was I even accepted into this school? I am a useless human being.

Stage Eight: The Mental Breakdown

I am going to fail! My parents are going to kill me! I will be a shame to society. I can’t take that professor’s class again. He will know that I couldn’t pass his class. I’m a failure to human evolution!

Stage Nine: Accepting Your Fate

OK, I’ve done the best I could and that’s all that really matters. I won’t have to retake the class. I’ll probably do fine! Right?

Finals week is a terrible time for any college student. We go through so many emotions in the span of several exhausting days. We are all sleep-deprived, caffeinated, and on edge. However, we really shouldn’t be. The best way to get through finals is to stay calm. Have confidence in yourselves. You can pass these exams in your sleep. The one thing that I’ve learned about finals week is that if you can get through this, than you can get through anything. You are going to be OK!