Hey, my beloved readers! Did you miss me?!?! I was busy studying for my finals- my first here at OWU. Well, as you may be able to tell from the title of today's entry, I will give you the 411 on how to deal with the pressure of finals at Ohio Wesleyan University for the fall semester, how I have prepared for my finals and how I manage to relax during this strenuous time in my educational life.
All of last week was like a preparation for the real thing. Finals are huge here at OWU, that is why you are more than likely to see people studying everywhere- in their residential halls (either in the comfort of their rooms or in the many study rooms available) or in the academic buildings. It is during this time of the year that you will see people studying in every part of every building- places where you have never seen occupied by anyone. However, the place where you will see people preparing for their final papers, presentations, and exams is the Beeghly Library. Beeghly library is a three-story building with a huge basement area, a silent area (the third floor) and a most convenient cafe, waiting for students to grab a cup of joe to help them with their frayed nerves. I use the library often because of the many areas (particularly on the second floor) to get away from the activity in my residential hall.
My approach to dealing with finals is very simple: study everything with a greater emphasis on the parts that you are not sure how to do. That way, you will be able to conjure up something to help you finish the test or at least that question you are stuck on. This is easier said than done, even for myself at times. I like to think that finals are another obstacle that I need to jump over in order to achieve success- and obstacles are a part of life. My point: students, including myself, need to suck it up and deal it the best way we can (this includes high school seniors around America- you will be in my footsteps a year from now). Finals are important but I won't let the finals I am taking be the bane of my very existence.
I try to study in different places. Studying can be tedious especially if you are trying to do very well at finals. I am glad that I took my Calculus and Spanish Finals on the 16th of December; that means that I am stress-free unlike most of my other peers. Finals week stretches from Saturday, December 16- Thursday, December 21. The irony is that I don't have another final until Thursday, my Intro to Latin American Studies (I am so stoked for this final, believe it or not). I can say that the fall part of freshman was serious business and that I came through alive, poised for the spring semester.
The intensity of studying for finals is at a feverish pitch. I am a very organized (but not anal) person: my notes are always in order from the date they were taken, my books are filed by size in my cabinet, and I am usually done studying by a certain hour depending on the day. On the contrary, I always thought that my room would be strewn with various papers because of some days I would be tired and would not care to organize anything- something like this:
By relaxing and letting everything take its course as God intended it to, I was able to avoid this catastrophe and focus on the goal on hand. I am satisfied with how preparation for finals turned out, no matter what the outcome (as long as the outcome is somewhat manageable and easy to fix in the near future).
Two down, one to go. I know I will be ready on Thursday- I have a FOUR DAY break from finals. I am one happy camper. I am going to kick back, watch a movie, and enjoy life. I invite anyone who wants to relieve some stress in a safe way (meaning no outrageous partying or anything in that category) before a big test or final to do something in a similar manner. Good luck for those of you who will be doing finals in the next few days. I will be praying for you.
Hasta luego,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10
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