“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is a dark comedy television show, airing on FXX, about four horrible people who own and operate a crappy Irish bar in Philadelphia. Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie and Frank all know what it’s like to struggle, and whose daily lives are as stressful as finals week to a student.
1.
This definitely a nice representation of how finals week is different than every other week (to some). Study hours become extensive and bedtimes disappear. You might be eating a Poptart for dinner in the wee hours of the morning, and something like “beer for breakfast” no longer sounds like the most appalling thing in the world. Especially after you finish a ton of work, you deserve a beer at whatever time you want! It can feel a little pathetic to reflect on, but everyone gets a pass during finals week.
2.
Finals week is hard, but so is the last semester of a school year in general. Papers are piling up, organizations are having events for everyone to fulfill last minute requirements, your family is getting eager to see you and classes are quickly coming to an end. With all of the deadlines, self-care and health can get pushed aside. We can all connect to Sweet Dee and her inability to shower or change clothes with all of the time we spend at the library during finals.
3.
Eating unhealthy is another way college kids tend to forget about self-care during finals week. It isn’t unlikely to eat leftover Panda Express for a day…or two. We are running out of allowances and don’t have the time to work because of exams, so our stomachs suffer underneath our wallets. Vending machine food is also a staple favorite amongst students who take up residence in the library for the last two weeks of school. Or, as Charlie does, eating a Hot Pocket from the garbage! Maybe that’s a bit far.
4.
Sometimes school work can feel very overwhelming and all you want to do is go to the bar with your friends and forget all about finals, or just life in general. Getting out and away from school work is healthy in moderation; going out once or twice might be good for you! But separate yourself from the gang and do your work before play, or you’ll end up working for a dive bar in Philly.
5.
Finals can make the nicest people turn into monsters with all of the stress college can produce. We’ve all felt like Charlie before and wanted everyone around us to feel our pain.
6.
Finals week, along with being full of projects and exams, can make students question why they’re in college and if all the work is even worth it. Thinking about life after college is scary. Resumes and cover letters enter student’s vernacular and interviews are now scheduled alongside exams. All students have felt unprepared and confused like Charlie Day feels on a regular basis.
Whoever you relate to, the characters of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” understand what it’s like to struggle, and at least we can look to them for comfort and be glad our lives haven’t reached as low as theirs.