Student Blog: A Letter to All College Students During Finals Season

Dear college students around the world,

Hi. How are you doing? I know that's a loaded question, especially right now, but what's the honest answer? I can handle it because I know how you feel. It's finals season which means every single day is constantly filled with endless stress, anxiety and the fear of not having enough time to complete the ridiculous amount of assignments and studying that has to be done. There's no surprise that what's being asked of you is borderline unreasonable so your emotions are entirely valid.

But I'm writing to you today to tell you that you can do it. You will make it through finals week. You will be successful. You will get everything done that needs to be. You are capable of whatever is being thrown your way. You can do anything no matter what anyone says or what you believe. All of this might seem impossible, but I promise that every word is true.

This time of year, as wonderful as it may be for the holidays, tends to be nothing but miserable for us as college students. Professors don't seem to understand that we are human beings who still need sleep, proper food and time to simply just breathe. But instead, assignment after assignment are given out, exam dates announced and every minute of free time is dedicated to getting a good grade to finish out the semester. Not a single student on campus is happy and until finals season is over, it's crunch time where nothing else seems to matter.

Please remember to take care of yourself. Take breaks while studying, drink lots of water and schedule in time to actually rest at the end of the day. No grade is more important than your physical or mental health so give yourself some grace and realize how much you are accomplishing each day without pushing yourself to the limits. If you need help, don't be afraid to reach out. There are many people around you all experiencing the same thing and are always willing to support you in any way that's possible. Take advantage of that, remember you are not alone ever especially during this time of the semester.

Above all else, be kind to yourself. This is often forgotten when we are bogged down with assignments and studying, but it's more important than ever before. Remind yourself that your best is always enough, that you're making progress and despite how hard this might seem, you are in fact making it through the difficult times. There are positives of these dreaded few weeks, believe it or not, so try to focus on that.

To everyone who isn't a college student, the best thing you can do is offer your support! Whether it's sending care packages, encouraging texts or spending time with each other doing a relaxing activity, these little actions matter significantly. Something as simple as this could change a not-so-good day to one that's much better in a few split seconds. So for anyone who knows someone earning their degree, think about how you can be there for them. Trust me, we'll take just about anything and it's always appreciated.

At the end of the day, I hope my words help you feel comforted even just the slightest during this hectic time of the semester and year. Everything will be okay and you will get through it all. Be kind, take breaks to relax, and remember you are doing great things. I promise. Just know that I'm wishing you all the very best during this finals season. You can do it!

To post a comment, you must register and login.