As we approach finals week and attempt to survive it for the reward of summer, we often lose sight of ourselves.

We lose sight of why we are here. We are here not just for education, but for friendship and new experiences. We lose sight of what we love to do, the things that keep us from being stressed. We lose sight of what we are worth, for the only thing we can associate with our worth is what our GPA will be at the end of the week.

When it comes to finals, we stop being mindful, and we stop taking care of ourselves. We all need to remember that we are what is important.

You cannot go without sleep in order to try and make an A on that test or paper. A tired and cranky you will not reach the same potential as a well rested and alert you will.

You cannot go without food to cram in another hour of studying. You will lose focus. You will become irritable, and you will suffer through finals much more while hungry than you would with a PB&J in your system.

You cannot let the numbers you see at the end of the semester define you. Those numbers do not show your personality, your heart, your passions, your dedication, the way your friends or family see you, etc. They simply show what you have learned and memorized over the course of a semester as determined by the curriculum needs you have met.

You are most important. If you are in tears over a paper, studying, or finishing a project, then it's too much. Take a break. You can come back to it later. If you are falling asleep over your notebook, then stop and go to bed. If you are confident in most of the material, do not stress over the few concepts that you don't understand. No one is perfect. You've been learning this all semester, so if you don't know it now, you won't learn it in one night.

Take time for yourself. Eat good meals. Get some good sleep. Take a break to watch an episode of your favorite show. Don't over-do the finals prep, and remember that you are most important.