Finals season is a stressful time for all of us. It seems like a blur of tears, coffee, and paper cuts. With this dreaded time of year upon us, I think it is important to reflect on a popular phenomenon: the Breakdown. Here are the telltale signs that you are going through a final’s breakdown.
1. Procrastination
No one likes studying, but you take putting it off to a whole new level. You spend hours and hours perusing the Internet, investing all of your energy into those Buzzfeed and Her Campus BC articles. Sure, you learn a lot about the world around you (or just look at pictures of puppies), but none of that will be on your exam.
2. Panic
About three days before the exam, you will probably start to panic. What’s that you say? This final exam is 99.99% of your grade? You’ll never get into Med school if you don’t get an A? Suddenly, all the concerns about your future will start to flood your brain. You’ll never get into grad school, you’ll never get a job, you won’t even graduate! All of that procrastination sounds like a bad idea, until…
3. Get angry
Until it’s time to get mad. So you will admit that you haven’t started studying yet, but you are pretty sure your professor never mentioned half the things on the study guide. Who does he think he is? You should not be responsible for information that was not handed to you. Not to mention, that professor is such a jerk. She doesn’t even put her PowerPoints online, so how does she expect you to study? You have done nothing wrong in this situation and clearly your professors are just out to get you.
4. False confidence
After your temper tantrum settles, you’ll open a book. Now, you’re probably about a day away from your exam, so an all nighter is crucial. You’ll chug some coffee, eat some chocolate, and next thing you know, you’ve been studying for at least five hours. That is plenty of time to learn everything that will be on your cumulative final! You’ve got this. You don’t even need sleep, because you are a superhero.
5. The end
Finally, it is time to show up to the exam. This could go one of two ways. Best-case scenario, your cram sesh paid off and you do well. More likely, though, things take a slightly different turn, and things get emotional. All the knowledge you once knew is gone, and you are stranded on an island of confusion. Sitting through the exam is pure agony, but you know handing it in blank and running away would be worse. Welcome to the breakdown- a series of emotional, irrational and miserable panic attacks and soft weeping in Bapst. Once the breakdown occurs, it is best to just take a deep breath and take a nap.
Finals breakdowns never end well, so feel free to cry, throw things, or eat your weight in ice cream. Just remember, this is just an exam. Good luck!
Photo Sources:
http://howisavemoney.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/procrastinate-now-and-panic-later-20.png
http://mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/500talkingabout.jpg
http://stpaulsoutreach.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/tips-for-combating-finals-stress/