Most students are ready to cozy up for winter break and sit back and relax. Some, on the other hand, are not ready at all. Finals have arrived and some students are struggling. Many are allowing themselves to let those presents collect dust under the tree until their stress has passed. Others however, are keeping calm and collected and are deciding to put their school work on do not disturb. Some students shared how they are handling finals.
Junior Valerie Vojta shared how some outside sources get in the way of her school work. “I procrastinate because I would rather be watching TikToks or Netflix. This is a bad habit of mine and I’ve learned my lesson multiple times. I pretend that I am doing the study guides for finals but I watch YouTube instead.” According to Vojta, her reputation of procrastination has gotten her in trouble a couple of times. Study guides are helpful, but not always exciting. This causes Vojta to put off her school work and click resume on her shows.
Junior William Zhao has a similar outlook as Vojta when it comes to procrastination. Zhao shared his honest ways of how he handles the stress of finals, or more how he doesn’t handle the stress, because he does not need to. Zhao stated, “I say I am going to do it in a minute then I never do it, and I repeat that cycle. I tell myself I could have done it before, and I should have listened to myself. I am not worried about finals because I just happen to be a good test taker.” Zhao has the gift of doing well on tests, even if he does not study, which works in his favor, but he still admits that his habits of procrastinating are not helpful and can sometimes be harmful.
Unlike Zhao and Vojta, junior Jackson McCreadie, has been worried for a while about finals. “I do not procrastinate, if anything, I am very paranoid about finals. I can’t stop thinking about my upcoming tests and I want to do my very best. I avoid procrastinating by getting all my work done, but I am still paranoid about finals,” said McCreadie. He is focused on finals, and procrastination is just not an option for him.
Procrastination and paranoia can both be harmful for some students. Paranoia can take over one’s mental stability because of the constant worry of doing poorly on a test or just school work in general. Procrastination, on the other hand, also can lead to constant anxiety when the realization of finals comes to mind. Even though Zhao is a procrastinator, he had an idea for those who may be paranoid about finals week. Zhao stated, “I think a good idea is to organize study groups with friends because it will motivate each other.” Encouragement from fellow peers may help both procrastinators and those who are paranoid about finals.
