Logansport High School enacted a policy going into my sophomore year that made final exams optional if a student did not miss class more than two times that semester, and was able to maintain a 72% or higher in the class. Thus, in a span of five years, this will be my second time ever having to take a final exam or write a final paper.

The one thing I keep hearing is, “Get sleep, study hard, take a break, and get more sleep.” I feel like an almost logical idea would be to pull an all-nighter at some point, and to study hard and long to try and prepare myself. That however also seems like an extremely ignorant thing to do, as it will only put you behind the very next day for more studying. Yes, rest seems far more important than saying, “I pulled an all-nighter studying for finals.” To simply paraphrase what I see as a positive message from Head Track and Field Coach Morgan.

Jake Ponton ’14 hard at work in the FIJI House Library

I think another good thing is to have fun when writing papers and studying. Stress is already present when you get to the exam room or turn in that final paper. I do not see any positives from sitting at my desk, revisiting my 400+ Latin flashcards, and thinking how I will ruin my life if I don’t do well enough. I see positives from sitting at my desk, reviewing my 400+ Latin flashcards, and thinking how well I CAN do on this test. I see positives in writing a final paper, and telling myself how much more on I know on the subject than I did a full semester ago. I see positives in keeping a smile on my face, coffee out of my system (I loath coffee, sorry Dad), and studying with an attitude to have fun.

So have fun this Dead Week and coming Finals Week, Wabash.

WAF