It is that time in the semester where it feels like everything is going to come crashing down. It’s the dreaded weeks leading up to our sweet summer vacation. The only thing standing in our way is finals…and the 23 projects, 18 papers, and other tests we have being crammed into the last few days of classes.
Now, part of this is being a victim to procrastination. I’m sure many of us can agree that these last few weeks, stressful as they may be, could be a little less stressful if we had just started that paper one week earlier, or met with our group for the infamous group project just one more time to make sure everyone is on the same page.
I for one just struggle with time management the more I have to do. I have the time to accomplish certain tasks, but it is hard to decide what to focus on when you have an exam and a paper due for the same class on the same day.
Whichever I would decide, I would just think about what I have to do for the other one, and that just doesn’t help. All of a sudden, you’ve read three pages and have no recollection of it and have to reread anyway.
Overall, I think this last week before finals is more stressful than the actual finals week itself. Finals are by no means enjoyable, but I find it easier when a few tests are the only tasks at hand.
I can sit down and study and be productive in that way, it’s just when you bring the papers and presentations and the like into it that it just makes me crazy. There are all kinds of last-minute assignments that are trying to be crammed in just because at some point in the semester someone got behind, or we got a miracle snow cancellation, or two!
If you’re lucky enough to have a professor who offers extra credit as a last-ditch effort to improve your grade, you best believe that gets thrown into the stress mixture. It really makes you wonder if it is worth doing, and the answer is almost always yes.
Unless the time it takes to the do the extra credit will cause you not to do as well on your other assignments, then don’t take the time. That is counterproductive, but if the extra credit is relatively simple why not take advantage of the possibility to get a few more points for little effort.
Regardless of all the stress going on in our lives, just remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and sometimes we just need to be told that it’s going to be okay. It will be okay, you can do it even if it’s assisted by multiple trips to Starbucks a day!