Finish Well During Finals Week
Finals week. A phrase that causes a shudder to ripple through every college student. If finals week had a theme song, it would be the sinister sound of the monster shark from the movie Jaws darting toward its prey: da DAH, da DAH, da DAH da DAH da DAH…
From a freshman finishing their first year of college to a senior who is desperate to survive until graduation and everyone in between, finals week is a daunting finish line. If we think of the spring semester as a race, we are currently in the second leg of our run, with the finish line in sight. We don’t want to run out of energy and crawl to the finish line, right? So, how can we as Foresters finish our academic race with vigor and motivation? Here are a few tips to help you finish well during finals week:
Train for the Finish
When approaching finals week, you may be tempted to think that magically, you will be able to ace your finals because you will somehow rise to the occasion. However, a wise person once said, “Under pressure, we don’t rise to the occasion — we default to our training.” This means that when you are sitting in class, about to take your final, you will fall back on the effort and work you put in before finals week. “Training” can look different for everyone depending on study techniques and habits. But training always requires commitment and consistency. However you feel the most prepared and comfortable when studying, be consistent in those study habits so you will fall back on solid training during your finals. To generate more ideas on how to study successfully, contact the Academic Center for Excellence on the second floor of RichLyn Library.
Fuel for the Finish
Studying, finishing internships and clinicals, packing up for move-out day, and preparing for finals week are physical, emotional, and mental strains. All of us know the friend who gets sick during finals week, sniffling and coughing during an exam because of the physical toll finals take on the body. If we want to finish our academic race strongly, we must fuel to sprint through the finish line. This can look like drinking enough water, eating a balanced meal, or setting aside designated times to rest and recharge. To check out the food the Habecker Dining Commons is serving to fuel your academic performance, visit the DC Menu page.
Our consistency in our health and studying habits in preparation for finals week will help us be more consistent in our lives. As Foresters, we want to be everyday people who are steady and focused on our priorities and pursuits. Building consistency will help us finish our race well during finals week and beyond. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” When people look at the students and faculty of HU, let them say that we are consistent in our efforts to finish all our races well for Christ.
