Finals Week Approaches

It is finally December and Santa Claus will be coming to town in no time. However, before you can fully enjoy tasty Christmas cookies and open your gifts, there is one thing you need to overcome first: finals week.

Finals week can be a hard time for any student, regardless of his/her educational level. Most students think that they have a lot of time, but when finals come around, students start to panic and pull all-nighters. Professor Amanda McMenamin, part of the Spanish department, has advice on how to succeed in your finals without pulling an all-nighter.

The biggest advice from Professor McMenamin is that, whether you have in class finals or final papers, start ahead of the time. Start reviewing notes, any handouts from the professor and highlight anything important for in class finals. With writing a paper, the earlier you start, the more time you have to look for outside resources, create a proper outline, write carefully and attentively review your work. Preparing early boosts your confidence and betters your actual performance during the exam week. Do not procrastinate.

Professor McMenamin also advises to take advantage of all the resources available. If you find it hard to go over your textbooks or your notes throughout the semester, do not hesitate to go to the Academic Support Center (ASC) for help. ASC provides students with one-on-one tutoring in almost every subject, and they are preparing some tips for Wilson students to get through finals. If you have a big research paper due, go to the Writing Lab to have your work reviewed and proofread. Furthermore, when it comes to seeking scholarly outside resources, the library is always the best place. The library database is enormous, and if you cannot find what you need, you can request it through the Interlibrary Loan or talk to the library staff.

Finally, Professor McMenamin stresses the importance on prioritizing your physical and mental health. It is easy to concentrate on everything that needs done that students feel stressed, anxious or depressed. Do not forget to eat and get enough sleep. If not it will affect your academic performance and your overall health. Finals are important, but your health is more crucial. Relax, eat smart and get enough sleep. If you ever feel overly anxious or lost, you can go to talk to someone, either your best friend, roommate, parents or professors. Also, you can reach out to the Counseling Center at Wilson to talk with someone. It will be confidential and you will get some helpful tips from them.

Best of luck to everyone as you prepare for finals week.

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