Students Begin Buckling Down for Finals

Taking Time to Share Tips on How They Stay Sane

By Casey Dainsberg (Story #8)

The Lower Hobson Union was a little more busy than usual on Tuesday afternoon. A certain anxiety and excitement filled the air as students rushed around the Union. Some were visiting friends they wouldn’t see until next semester, others were trying to use the last of their Beaver Bucks, and still more were hurrying to finish up last minute assignments. It is the last day of classes before finals start and students reflect the excitement associated with the end of the semester. Nevertheless, there is a certain level of stress that always finds its way into the end of the semester, and many a student is familiar with its presence.

Finals week affects each student differently. BSU Junior Nate Erickson said so far this year finals week seems to be shaping up to be fairly normal when compared to past years. “It’s pretty typical of the past,” he said, “some stress here and there, I have to read for a lot of subjects, but in all fairness it’s not too stressful for me.”

The clatter of plates and the excited conversations of students discussing their upcoming break and final tests in the Hobson Union food court didn’t faze Erickson. He continued on, casually explaining why he likes Finals Week. “What I really like about Finals Week is you don’t have class, so you do have time to study for these things, even though you do have to study a lot for them.”  Erickson also noted that another component of Finals Week he liked, was the fact that once everyone is studied out, “You can really just hang out with people…you’re all in the same boat, all working through the same stress.”

Sitting at the same table, quiet and thoughtful BSU Junior Nick Lorenson, picked up his fork and began eating the taco bowl he had obtained from the food court just moments before. As a transfer student in his first year at BSU, Lorenson fell on the opposite side of the spectrum as Erickson when it came to the stresses associated with finals. He joked that on a stress scale between one and ten he was at “Thirteen,” having been up for the previous forty hours without sleep working on final assignments. Sleep deprived but his sense of humor still intact, Lorenson continued with a laugh and said, “I’m learning that my body is able to go on less sleep than I ever thought possible.”

Matthew Weeks said that playing with the animals
helps him to de-stree during finals.
(Photo by Casey Dainsberg)



Lorenson was not the only student experiencing the physical tolls of stress. Matthew Weeks, a design technology major in his fourth year at BSU said, “I was so stressed out last night trying to finish a project that I had a migraine and I was nauseous.” For students dealing with the stress of finals, Hobson Memorial Union and the Lifestyle Educators Organization hosted a De-Stress Yourself event. They provided a place for students to stop in and de-stress in the Crying Wolf Room, in the Lower Hobson Union. Pets were there from the Beltrami County Humane society for students to play with and cuddle. They also provided massages, and the Club Mud (ceramics club) was selling hot chocolate and ceramic mugs.





BSU Junior Reid Nichols holds one of the kittens at

the De-Stress Yourself with Pets event in the Hobson Union.

(Photo by Casey Dainsberg)



BSU junior Reid Nichols, said that he, “Came to hang out with the cats,” because it reminded him about his cats at home. The pets were probably the biggest hit of the event, most students waiting patiently to spend some time playing with the frisky, loving animals. There were three dogs that were about six months old, and two kittens. The kittens climbed in and out of the arms of students, curiously exploring tables and chairs, and sometimes curling into a soft, fluffy ball of contentment in the arms of students for a quick rest. The three puppies relished the pats and scratches they received from adoring students, but often would wander off, sniffing and exploring the room until called back with an enticing treat or toy. Weeks said that playing with animals, “is really relaxing to me.”




 


Students gathered around and waited their turn to play with the friendly
pets at BSU's De-stress yourself event in the Crying Wolf Room.
(Photo by Casey Dainsberg)

 

Students have learned how to deal with the stress of finals differently. “I’m usually not a good one to ask about Finals Week,” laughed Erickson, “because I actually like Finals Week; I’ve learned to take the stress off.” Erickson explained how he does that, amid humorous quips from his friends, saying that over the years he has, “Learned to accept whatever grade I get, and whatever grade I’ve earned… I’m not going to kill myself to put in that extra effort to get an A, when I’ve got a C in the class.” Erickson said he also puts a lot of emphasis on other things, not just academics.

Lorenson also talked about how he deals with the stress of finals, taking a bit different approach than Erickson. “Lots of caffeine!” he laughed, and then continued more seriously saying, “Just taking it one step at a time.” Lorenson also said he finds it important to take time to just laugh, “Yesterday I went on Youtube and I looked up the funny moments of Home Alone…I couldn’t have done anything more to refresh myself better.” With that, Lorenson also said he keeps in mind the fact that the end of semester is near, and break is coming up.

 



For seniors, the stress can be even more rampant. Senior Brittany Story, a Social Work major graduating this semester, said that compared to past years, this semester was most stressful for her. “There was a lot riding on the finals,” she said, “it’s my last chance to get a good GPA.” Story explained that many of her tests were an accumulation of everything she’s learned over the years, and as a result much more difficult and stressful. “I had a lot of finals that were take-home, so there was a lot of stress all at once,” she said, however after working on them over the weekend, she said she, “actually got ahead, so I’m not as stressed as I would have been if I had waited.”

As a senior, Story has had her fair share of finals. She said that the best advice she would recommend to students is, “Don’t procrastinate, make a schedule and stick to it. Work on stuff progressively as you go, instead of waiting ‘til last minute because that creates a lot of stress.” She also encouraged students to live a healthy lifestyle, and take a break once in awhile, “Make sure to take breaks, and do something fun, exercise, eat right, and make sure you’re sleeping well.” Lorenson had similar advice to offer students, saying, “You can never start something too early, so just remember as you’re looking down space things out…take things one step at a time.”

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