It is that time of the year again – the time where students get on Canvas to plug in the lowest possible “what-if” scores to make sure their grades will hold on for the rest of the semester. It is also the time where students participate in nontraditional activities to let go of the stress of finals week.
Doing something as simple as watching a movie provides a stress relief for Lauren Cates, senior from Fancy Farm, Ky. A mid-week viewing of “Finding Nemo” is a tradition Cates began four years ago during finals week. The plot of the movie and Cates’ current situation are strikingly similar.
“I just connected it with Marlin who never gave up looking for Nemo after overcoming all of the adversity,” she said. “It is just like when we want to give up and not want to study for our finals.”
While it may be hard to find a comparison between a fish and a human, Cates said we can all learn a little bit from Marlin about overcoming hurdles, and of course, how to “just keep swimming” like Dory.
It has been said that many people eat when they are stressed out. For Torie Ramlose, senior from St. Louis, Mo., eating cookie dough has become a way to alleviate stress during finals. Baking cookies is a common ritual for Ramlose and is a reflection of an earlier memory with her sister.
“My sister and I have always loved it,” Ramlose said. “Baking cookies was something we did often growing up and we ate the dough throughout the process.”
Just the taste of the cookies provides an instant escape from the anxiety of finals week. However, Ramlose does not need much to take her back, she said.
“I would never condone binging on it, but eating a small amount gives me a chance to remember some happy moments of my childhood,” Ramlose said.
She also suggested that baking cookies breaks up study sessions so that she does not get overwhelmed with her responsibilities.
Other students prefer to escape outdoors. Kayla Reynolds, junior from Big Rock, Tenn., enjoys hanging out – literally. Reynolds started studying in a hammock in the Quad to relieve stress.
“I started because I hate being cooped up indoors and it feels good to relax in a hammock and get things done,” Reynolds said.
Not only does this activity help you to de-stress, but it also keeps you in touch with nature, she said.
“It is fun on campus because you can just talk to people and make new friends,” Reynolds said. “Sometimes I will do it alone but usually there are always other people on campus, too.”
While no two ways are the same, and not one is better than another, relaxing for finals is imperative to students’ success. In one short week, those “what-if” grades will be final.
Story by Tiffany Whitfill,?Contributing writer