Finals Week Blues: It's Your Own Fault

As another semester comes to an end and final exams and project deadlines approach, I hear countless plaintive cries like: "Can't it be over yet?" That's understandable. What's not acceptable is the endless whining from students who say, "I have so much to do… (Insert long list here)" and let's not forget the notorious, "Don't talk to me about stress levels…"

But let's face it. So many people put themselves into these situations. I understand the occasional semester from hell, where nearly every teacher assigns papers and projects at the same time. Everyone has had or will have this happen to them before they graduate. Or bad things can happen, things like car accidents, work outside of school, or the loss of a loved one. But that's life, isn't it?

What is most annoying are complaints from those who procrastinated or partied when they should have been studying. In many cases, work has been put off even when assignments, projects, and papers have existed even before Thanksgiving Break. You argue that you forgot out about it… but seriously? Did you ever think to check your syllabus, just in case? Nope, decided not to… that would have prevented this long list and a "right" to complain. If you hadn't waited until the last minute, if you actually thought about the work that had to be done, a week ago, hell, at least over this past weekend, you wouldn't be in the hotseat right now.

I used to complain every semester: You think you have stress? or …. You have no idea what I have to do… but the truth is, most every student does. We have those who took 21 credits, those who work and go to school and those rare cases where teachers assign everything, but let's look at this realistically, everyone has finals, whether it be creative portfolios, papers or huge projects, with final exams the following week. Everyone has stress. Everyone has it bad. Don't complain if you put things off till the last minute. Don't think you are in a worse situation than the person sitting next to you. It's the end of the semester; even our professors feel it.