By: Olivia Armstrong, Follow South Jersey Intern
GLASSBORO, N.J. — When the second week of December rolls around, not only are students stressed about buying gifts for loved ones, trying to squeeze in as much time with their friends as possible, but staying up until all hours of the night studying for finals.
Some students have more work, some students have less work, but it is all hard and a lot to manage, just might look different for other students.
Classes stop being in session, some students have final exams, some have final projects, some have final presentations, and some have all three. Students all go through it differently, and although it is easy to compare, saying one has it easier than the other, that just is not the case because it is challenging and time consuming no matter what.
“My finals weeks look different from other students. I have projects and, but, more so, I need to prepare for full time student teaching next semester and creating lesson plans,” Emma McGhee said, who is a senior majoring in early childhood education finishing her first semester up of senior year. McGhee student taught this semester but only twice a week, not nearly as much time, work, and effort she will have to devote to next year, so although she isn’t studying and taking exams, she is preparing to teach preschool curriculum, which is just as hard.
McGhee prepares by spending time in the library or at a local coffee shop with her air pods and computer just to get as much stuff done as possible. But she doesn’t let that stop her from spending time with her friends and by herself. As busy as she is with school, she always makes time to spend with her roommates, in fact right after this she is running to a Pilates class with two of her friends. Whether it’s going to the gym, taking a walk, watching a movie she still makes time to see her friends or else she will “fry her brain” McGhee said.
Hannah Hanson, senior at Rowan University with a major in psychology, has many final exams — five actually — as well as presentations and projects. “I have been studying and working on presentations every day for the past two weeks staying up till the latest 4 am to get everything done and feel as ready as possible,” Hanson said.
Hanson along with other students are ready for the semester to be over, but also sad to be done. Hanson squeezes in time to see her friends as well, she switches off between studying during the day versus at night depending on what her friends are doing.
Preparing for finals week as a college student is very hard to manage, time consuming, and stressful and all students handle and conquer it differently. Luckily the semester for all students is almost over and they have the holidays around the corner to look forward to.
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