Finals. The last hurdle before you can go home and forget about college for the summer. The Carver Reading Room and L2 are filled with transplants, already tenuous sleep schedules fall apart and stress is contagious. 

But have no fear — you’re not alone. The Collegian spoke to students who have some top tips to make the trials and tribulations of finals week less taxing. 

Joseph Gamil ’29 says the key to staying calm is to prepare yourself throughout the semester. “I feel a huge part of it is how [I plan] before the final. … So if you’re planning, putting in the effort, I don’t think the final should be a hard thing,” he said. Still, he emphasizes the importance of a relaxed, productive schedule. “It’s not like it [has] to be all the time studying, studying, studying. I find it really interesting to study with friends,” he said. “Take breaks. If you’re someone who plays music, who sings, just go play music from time to time. Chill. Have a good time while studying.” His favorite way to unwind is straightforward: “Just play piano or go for a walk with some of my friends.” By keeping an equal balance of rigor and relaxation, Gamil keeps the stress manageable. 

Divine Dabire ’29 offers a slightly more anxious perspective on the finals workload. When asked how she feels about finals, she responded bluntly: “I’m terrified.” With multiple exams, projects and presentations to complete, her stress levels feel more intense this semester than last. In spite of this, she has found her own small ways to cope. “Sleeping… drinking water… usually, crafting, like sewing, embroidery,” she said. Unlike Gamil, Dabire prefers to study alone, explaining, “I can’t focus on anything with my friends. I’ll just end up talking, or I’ll get weird and start staring into a wall waiting for them to talk. But I feel more at ease when I’m alone because there’s no distractions.” Dabire jokingly presented  a more intense approach: “[I] study so I don’t fail and die.” However, her quiet, controlled study environments show that even worried students can create systems that support both studying and relaxation. 

Damon Cavitt ’29 falls somewhere in between. He admitted, “I’ve been stressed, but that’s standard.” While he feels prepared for his exams, he also noticed how stress spreads among students: “I can feel the stress in the air on campus and with all my friends, so it’s reaching me as well,” he said. To help alleviate some of these nerves, Cavitt turns to a simple but effective habit. “I take walks sometimes, especially around sunset, when the campus is pretty. I like to walk down to [the] Lowry [Center] and back. It helps me calm down,” he said. His advice to others is to relax: “Finals aren’t your full grade. … Don’t stress too much about it. It’s not gonna end your life.” 

Across all three students’ responses, one message was clear: Relaxing before finals helps rather than hinders. Whether it be music, crafting, walking or simply studying in a preferred environment, small habits can make a big difference. More importantly, each student highlighted the significance of personal attitudes. Stress may be inevitable, but finding moments of relaxation and joy amid the chaos can make finals much more manageable.