This semester felt like it was dragging every day, only for us to get the end without even realizing how fast it was coming. All breaks were cut out of the semester to limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19 as much as possible. As a result, we are also getting out a lot earlier – before Thanksgiving. I’m sure most of us are thankful for a long break, but going the entire semester without any breaks has been wearing down a lot of us. We can get through it, though! Preparation is key to success in a lot of areas, but especially when it comes to finals at the end of a crazy year. There are a few different things that you’ll want to do to prepare you for finals:
Figure out your motivation and hold onto it.
We’ve gone this entire semester without a single break, and it’s wearing down on everyone. Burnout is starting to creep its head up - especially for seniors. But - remember why you’re here in the first place. Remember why you get out of bed every morning. You are stronger than you know. It’s almost over; you just have to push yourself the last little bit to the finish line. Encourage yourself and encourage others. We’re all in this together!
Find out exactly when and where your final exams will take place.
To adapt to the early end to our semester, we’ll be having a drastically different exam schedule. It’s posted on Canvas and a few other places but be sure to put it in your personal calendar.
Wednesday, November 18 Final Exams for classes that meet at 12:00 and 12:40 on MW and MWF
begin at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 19
Final Exams for classes that meet at 9:00 a.m. MWF begin at 9:00 a.m.
Final Exams for classes that meet at 9:25 a.m. TR begin at 1:30 p.m.
Friday, November 20
Final Exams for classes that meet at 10:40 a.m. MWF begin at 9:00 a.m.
Final Exams for classes that meet at 10:50 a.m. TR begin at 1:30 p.m.
Monday, November 23
Final Exams for classes that meet at 11:40 a.m. MWF begin at 9:00 a.m.
Final Exams for classes that meet at 12:15 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. TR begin at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 24
Final Exams for classes that meet at 8:00 a.m. MWF begin at 9:00 a.m.
Final Exams for classes that meet at 8:00 a.m. TR begin at 1:30 p.m.
Make a schedule for the week leading up to and the week of finals.
You’ll want to plan ahead so that you know what to study and when. It will add order to the craziness and help to keep you calm and on track. Be sure to schedule in breaks as well - if you do nothing but study, you’re just going to run yourself ragged. Give yourself time to rest and decompress throughout the weeks as well.
Reach out for help if you need it.
Our dead week is going to be a lot shorter than it normally is, so we won’t have as much time to prepare and ask questions. If you have any questions while studying, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You have both fellow students and teachers to fall back on if you’re feeling confused or just need help. One of the perks of being on a small campus – there’s always people that know and care about you.
Above all - take care of yourself.
Make sure that you’re eating enough and eating healthy food to fuel you properly. Consume more water than caffeine. Get proper sleep. If you don’t take care of yourself properly, then you’re going to be run down and exhausted by the time finals come. Once you get to that point, you won’t be operating at your peak performance, no matter how determined you are. Proper nutrition, hydration, and rest will ensure that you’ll be at your best physically and mentally.
Remember to stay calm. All you can do is your best.
