Twice a year, a week comes along that is jam-packed with papers, exams and a helping of overdramatics. It is commonly known around college campuses as “Finals Week,” where students cram in study sessions, a boat load of energy drinks and coffee. Speaking of caffeinated beverages, it is important to keep track of how much caffeine you consume. While smaller amounts will in fact improve focus and keep you awake, excessive amounts can actually bring unwanted stress, which is the absolute last thing students who get worked up about the big week want to have happen.
For some, the week might just be a couple days, but those two days might involve a marathon of up to three tests in a 24-hour period. Others might have a more spaced-out schedule that will last the whole week. Either way, it is definitely an event students do not look forward to.
Having gone through three years’ worth of this process, I must say I have never found “Finals Week” to be the tornado storm of fear and stress popular opinion would suggest it is. I have also had my share of finals weeks that included a series of test and papers jammed into three or four day periods and I have to say that I am not buying the hype. I do not think finals week is easy, but I also do not to find it be something worth stressing over. When you really think about, it is pretty stupid.
For example, the basic idea of having so many exams, papers and projects clustered into such a short period of time seems like an awful idea. By having so much to do and remember in such little time, no matter how much one may study, it seems nearly inevitable that their grade will not be the best it could. This is especially true if the finals are cumulative, as opposed to just being based on material taught in the second half of the semester. That is almost a whole two months’ more material to review. Now, I am not ultimately suggesting that “Finals Week” should be done away with completely (although it would be nice).
With that being said, “Finals Week” does have a legitimate reason for existing (other than to spring terror on students’ lives). Its general purpose is to be a reflection of how much material we know from the course that was taught throughout the semester, but trying to cram in all that information for a number of classes pretty much seems to be a disaster waiting to happen. Therefore, I can see why some people get themselves all worked up and stressed out.
Perhaps without even realizing it, the actual reason for the existence of “Finals Week” is not mainly to mess with students’ grades, but rather to put them through a test of stress, balancing so many tasks as once. This is a skill that can be very beneficial while progressing into adulthood. Overall, whether you are someone who is laid back and just lets “Finals Week” take its course or you want to rip your hair out then take a nap until the week is over. At the end of day, its existence has benefits, despite being so widely hated.
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