Three tests plus two papers plus a group presentation with two strangers equals the horrible reality of finals week. Whether it’s the first college finals or the last, everyone on University of the Cumberlands campus is in a tizzy, but have no fear. A few ways to survive are detailed below. Read carefully.
First and foremost, relax and breathe. Studying for eight hours straight is going to destroy every sane brain cell. Because Lisa Bartram, director of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) understands what it’s like to stress out over finals, she and her students plan an annual relaxation week for the students.
From Dec. 8 to Dec. 10, several events will be available for students to come relax in between writing that paper and studying vocabulary terms for that psychology exam. Bingo will be held Dec. 8, free massages Dec. 9 and puppy petting and a free performance from Kites, a local band, Dec. 10.
“Come for an hour and have a good time,” Bartram says. “That way [students] are fresh and ready to study because that’s what they’re here for.”
Second, create a study group. Sometimes studying alone can become a headache; everything becomes a distraction, the material is difficult to comprehend, or studying becomes napping after thirty minutes. So, at this point in the semester, you ought to know at least two other people in your class. Talk to them and form s finals study group. It would be even better if these people shared other classes.
Now that there’s a study group, you need a place to meet. During finals week, the best place to meet is up at Main Street Baptist Church (MSBC). Starting Dec. 13 through Dec. 15 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., MSBC hosts study nights, providing free food and drinks, a large study room filled with tables, smaller, quiet study rooms, and an open chapel for prayer.
“The best part is the excitement it generates and getting to invest in [students’] lives,” Albert Jones, associate pastor of MSBC, says. “It’s very rewarding help them get through a stressful time, to pray for them and see God comfort them.”
Finally, take a break. Studying usually turns into mindless staring at the computer screen or book, so take a break. A good way to take a break would be to study for a 20-30 minutes with 5-10 minute breaks in between those study periods. Once you’ve go through a few of those cycles, take 20-minute break. And in that free time, pop over to the Student Government Association’s (SGA) study break for a little while.
In the past, SGA sponsored free study breaks in the T.J. Roberts Dining Hall Sunday through Wednesday nights of finals week. Vice-president of SGA, Jeff Roberson, is an active member in making decisions for the study breaks each semester. He and other SGA leaders recently met to make final decisions for which restaurants will cater. Sunday night, Dec. 13, will be the traditional midnight breakfast in the dining hall from 10 p.m. to midnight. The rest of the food breaks will be held in the mid-BCC at 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Subway, McDonald’s, and Kings Donuts respectively.
“It’s a stress relief time by socializing with friends and connecting with other students to feel less stressful,” Roberson says.
So, as everyone prepares for the next grueling weeks, keep these tips in mind to survive finals week. Keep your chins up; Christmas break is nearly here and finals will be a thing of the past.
Amanda Kelly 