The semester is passing by at warp speed. Thanksgiving is this week, and we are all looking forward to having a short break. However, once we come back from break, we will be back in acceleration mode preparing for finals. Before this happens, take a step back and enjoy some time with your friends. My favorite way to do this around this time of year is by having a Friendsgiving dinner.
Since I am neither your address book or a chef, I, unfortunately, can’t help you gather your friends or cook your dinner. As a Junior, however, I am a self-proclaimed “expert” on studying for finals. I created a list of all the essential Thanksgiving items you’ll need for Friendsgiving, while simultaneously crafting a list of the necessities for finals week.
Sleep. And turkey.
Turkey (or tofurkey for all my vegetarian friends out there) is the most important item at the dinner table. You know it’s a necessity and can’t leave it off your plate. Like sleep, turkeys require time and you have to plan it in advance. Don’t put it off until too late or it (and you) might crash.
Flashcards. And gravy.
Gravy, like a good deck of flashcards, is not an essential, but it can make a huge impact on the overall outcome of the meal.
Is it a perfect metaphor? No. But stay with me, here.
Don’t just use it on the turkey, spread it across multiple items on your plate (and classes). Just remember if you aren’t careful, it may spill all over your cranberries. Be careful about strategically organizing it on your plate, so you won’t have to clean it up later. Like gravy, flashcards are a huge hassle to pick up if they all fall out in your backpack and history becomes mixed with chemistry.
Armstrong. And casseroles.
There seems to be a never-ending supply of casseroles at Thanksgiving, and same goes for Armstrong. Did you know Armstrong is staying open 24 hours a day during Finals? And Pavilion is transforming into one giant study room. Go ahead and indulge, but remember to come up for air and take a break from it every so often. My advice here works for both casseroles and Pavilion: get up and walk outside every so often (it’s good for your health!).
The Textbook. And a glass of water.
You need a glass of water, but you probably don’t want it. Like your textbook, it can be refreshingly helpful and simultaneously boring enough to put you to sleep. Water is essential, but you can get a little more adventurous at Thanksgiving dinner. So make sure you aren’t only using your textbook to study. Consider rotating between water and that warm cup of apple cider every so often?
Homework Practice Problems. And warm apple cider.
A glass of warm apple cider is significantly more exciting than a cup of water. It might even be arguably more helpful. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Like cider, doing enough practice problems will set you up for success on your exams.
Group Study Sessions. Rolls.
Rolls are theoretically best when divided and conquered. They come in packs, so it’s probably not great to eat them all alone. Otherwise, you will be feeling very overwhelmed and overstuffed (although… who among us hasn’t tackled a basket of rolls alone? It feels so good. Until it doesn’t). The same can be said for distributing study work. Both rolls and group study sessions need to be divided because if you spend too much time on them, then you won’t have room (or time) for anything else.
Office Hours. Green Beans.
Green beans are probably not your favorite thing on the plate. But (and it pains me to admit it), they’re good for you. The same can be said for visiting your professor during office hours. We recommend eating green beans and visiting your professor first so you don’t have to keep thinking about it and can check them off your list.
Course Evaluations. Mashed Potatoes.
Cooking mashed potatoes can be a great stress reliever, but don’t overbeat them or they won’t turn out well. The best-mashed potato recipe is straight to the point, containing just a few ingredients and very smooth. Like a good mashed potato recipe, don’t take out the anger you have from your final grade on your professor. Provide constructive feedback that’s straightforward.
Study Guide. The dessert.
The dessert is not always there, but you couldn’t be more thankful when it’s provided. It’s oh-so-sweet, just like a good study guide! You probably want to eat it first, and I would completely agree. However, sometimes it can be best to save it for the end so you have room for everything else. Study guides can also be saved for the end as a great tool for checking your knowledge.
Thanksgiving dinner is more enjoyable than preparing for finals. However, I hope these cheesy metaphors helped you relieve some stress about what the upcoming weeks have in store. The most important thing to remember is that just like Thanksgiving, finals are temporary. Be prepared and power through. We believe in you!
Hannah Frier | Marketing
