How to Survive Finals

By: Katie Hearns

I hope all of you are making it through the beginning stages of finals and at least getting some sleep…and by that, I mean a 20-minute nap on the bus. It’s okay, we’ve all been there. Sleep is a limited resource that we must protect at any cost, even if it includes accidentally falling asleep on the stranger beside you. At this point in time, the work flow always turns up a notch and the all-nighters pick back up again. The real kicker about finals is that it isn’t just one week. It naturally manifests into a two-week endeavor involving dark circles and plenty of coffee. With that said, I’ve created a small checklist that outlines the necessities of a SCAD Finals week(s), including tips and some much-needed motivation.

The first thing on my list involves a place that is near and dear to many SEQA and ILLU students. If you take/have taken any classes at Haymans Hall you likely know about…Fancy Parker’s. To some it’s a myth that is only heard in passing but to others is a beautiful reality that feeds and provides. Fancy Parker’s is only a 5-10 minute walk from Haymans and it has everything you could possibly think of for a midnight snack. You can get coffee, sandwiches, soda, ice cream, protein bars, etc. The options are endless and it’s open 24 hours! So, when it’s 5AM and your eyes are starting to burn from staring at a screen for over 8 hours, take a walk to Fancy Parker’s and fuel up.

Next, most of us wouldn’t be able to survive these two weeks without some sort of caffeine. Coffee is typically needed throughout the entire quarter but it reaches a whole new level once finals hit. Pulling an all-nighter is no easy task and this is where excess energy comes in handy. For the second finals necessity, I recommend double espresso shots, Monster, and 5 Hour Energy. Tip: Be careful not to overdo it. Too much caffeine can make some people jittery so be sure to start off small and work your way up.

Continuing, your OOTD is likely the last thing on your mind when you have a million things to do. This is exactly why essential three involves you breaking out the sweatpants! No thought is involved and they’re easy to throw on. Believe me, no one is judging. Working all night long is even less appealing when you’re wearing crunchy jeans and stiff shirts. So swap that drab out for baggy tees and comfy sweatpants, maybe even throw in a blanket. The goal here is to get as close as possible to actually being in bed.

Another absolute essential is some kind of music. It’s one of the best motivators and makes time go by so much faster. You’ll understand the true pain of sitting in silence if you’ve ever forgotten your headphones at home. That’s the last thing you want when you’re running on less than two hours of sleep. Make sure you’ve got some good tunes and maybe even listen to a throwback song to boost your mood.

And finally, you’ll need lots and lots of determination. It’s super easy to give up and just go home but that really isn’t an option for us. The bright side to finals is that you know everyone else around you feels the exact same. Every single one of us is working hard and doing their best to make it through. So keep doing what you’re doing and don’t stop until it’s finished!

To recap, in order to survive finals you’ll need:

-Fancy Parker’s

-Caffeine

-Sweatpants

-Music

-Determination!

Equipped with all of these things, I’m confident anyone can survive a SCAD Finals week(s). It’s a great feeling to look back on the quarter and see everything you’ve accomplished and how much you have learned. So don’t be too hard on yourselves in this coming week. Keep this checklist in mind and make sure to take care of yourself.

Now, let the all-nighters begin…

P.S. I’m sure most of you will strongly relate to this checklist and may even have things to add to it. Respond to this post/send us a message and tell us what your SCAD Finals Week Checklist looks like!