Having a positive outlook in life is your SUPERPOWER! It doesn’t come easy, and everyday there’s a battle to overcome, but while you can’t control the things that life throws at you, you can control the way you react to those situations. As the end of the semester approaches, things can sound nerve wracking and stressful, but it’s important to realize that you’ve already come so far.
Every day you’re one step closer to graduation, and there’s this pressure that college students should get their life together by then. That means preparing ahead of time by getting internships, building your resume, and possibly finding a job. Trying to balance everything out when you’re in college is a challenge. Not only because you can get overwhelmed by assignments, but also because it may be hard to find a way out from thoughts that make you question your purpose when everything seems like a routine.
Don’t forget that you’re not alone during finals week. It’s natural to feel rushed, stressed, tired and sad, and your classmates probably feel the same way! These emotions don’t bring anything good to your life though, I know that from personal experience and I found helpful ways to get rid of those feelings when finals week comes around every semester. Trying your very best, but understanding that you did all you could should be the only thing that matters.
There was one time when I was struggling with understanding the material in a class and I remember spending days trying to prepare myself for an exam. I felt sure that I was going to ace it, but when I saw the results I got a C grade. Then there was a time that I did very well in an exam I didn’t even study for. Not that I’m encouraging you to do the same, but I want you to realize that sometimes things don’t turn out the way you think they will.
To be honest, I felt much more accomplished with the class where I received a C grade on my exam. Why? Simply because I knew how much effort I put into studying and even though I received that grade, I was happy knowing the hard work I put into it. Compared to the class where I got a good grade without studying, I felt great, but I didn’t appreciate it as much as I did with the other class.
Life really works in mysterious ways and this experience taught me that you must be more accepting and appreciate what you’re doing because only you know how much effort you’re putting into your studies. Being more accepting separates you from those negative emotions that can consume your life during finals week. Whatever will happen, will happen whether we worry or not, so take it easy during finals. Just do your best and accept whatever comes after that with a positive attitude.
Reasons why a positive attitude matters:
- Self esteem
- Better health
- Motivation
Keeping these reasons in your mind can benefit you in anything you want to accomplish in life. When it’s about finals week and accomplishing good grades, it can be overwhelming because some students depend on them to keep scholarships that help pay for school and some students are simply go-getters. Believe it or not, sometimes grades, as I mentioned in my experience, can affect your self esteem. They become something so crucial in our college careers because it feels like they define who you are. Therefore, getting a bad grade causes worry or sadness, and a good grade makes you happy and motivates you.
No matter what you may face during finals week, don’t let a learning experience bring you down. Stay positive because there’s always second chances. Your self esteem will be better off when you know that you gave it your best. You will have better health if you stay positive and overcome regrets about not getting a grade you were aiming for. When choosing to have a positive attitude, you will find yourself more motivated to reach your goals and to do even better the next time you have finals. Finals week is a lot to take in, but don’t forget that you’re supposed to be positive to take care of yourself and you’re already winning if you choose to have that attitude at every step of the way, no matter what you may think.