You are not alone; power through the last few weeks

CSB/SJU students, hang in there.

It’s definitely that time of year. The weather is getting warmer (although, let’s be honest, it’s really not), classes are nearing the end and concentration levels are at an all-time low.

As we enter the last two weeks of the semester, it’s important to push through the lack of motivation and remember that you’re not alone in feeling anxious and overwhelmed.

There are plenty of resources available on campus to help you in this time of need–the Writing Center if you’re working on final essays, the Academic Skills Center if you need help studying for tests and mental health services if you need someone to talk to, to name a few.

Remember to take some time and enjoy the outdoors, giving yourself a mental break amid hours of studying.

Both St. Ben’s and St. John’s offer beautiful campuses for you to take advantage of, especially when you need to clear your head.

Keep an eye out for your friends as well. It’s easy for each of us to get wrapped up in our own bubble of studying, seemingly drowning in essays with tests looming while everyone else looks like they’re doing just fine. This makes it even more important to connect with those around you and check in to realize our unity.

Finals week is stressful for students across the nation. According to a study done by mental health researcher MentalHelp in 2016, 89% of college students experience stress during finals week, and 31% said that midterms and final exams were their most significant source of stress.

As we begin to get closer to finals week in May, it’s essential to keep statistics and ideas like this in mind. You can lessen the potential stress by planning ahead and understanding your place with others.

Start by finding out whether or not your classes have finals. If a class doesn’t, check to see if you have any final projects or papers and when they’re due. If a class does, find out when and where your final is scheduled to take place.

You can find the finals schedule if you search “Final Exam Schedule” on the CSB/SJU website, and most professors include the location and time of their final test on their syllabi, if they plan to have one. Know that professors aren’t supposed to change the time of your final without the approval of each student in the class.

If your final time is moved to a different time that doesn’t work for you, it is not your job to make that new time work. You certainly shouldn’t have to choose which final to attend because one got moved to the same time as another. If you’re in this situation, reach out to your faculty advisor or academic administration for help.

Finals week and the time leading up to it can be one of the most challenging parts of the college experience. Stay connected, stay strong and remember: you can do it. Summer isn’t too far away.