By: Jillian Brugger
Finals are a stressful, challenging, and jammed packed part of the year. Every end of the semester comes with a mixture of excitement and dread as we all head into the unfamiliar territory of a fresh set of finals. This time though, with the rapid onset of COVID-19, things are a little different. Everyone is adjusting to their new academic path, including how finals will look, even some professors.
This is no one’s fault.
The number of emails sent to you over the past weeks describing the “unprecedented times we are in” may be repetitive at this point, but it’s true. Staff may be behind on planning what comes next, getting adjusted to using technology, moving around dates on the pre-pandemic syllabus, and just generally freaked out a little. As a Supplemental Instruction Leader, I can attest that adapting my teaching style to an online format was (and still is a little) daunting and scary. We are in a social stalemate, and no one really knows what comes next. It really is unprecedented.
What does this have to do with finals? It means that with in this era of uncertainty, a heightened level of compassion and empathy should accompany it. Everyone, students and professors alike, should become more in tune to the convenience of the other group. For students, this means that you are malleable to the methods to which you professors deliver content. This may include some more work on your part, but should be met with equal and opposite responsiveness by those employed to teach you. Everyone is out there (in their own homes) trying to look out for each other, and the process of the continuation of your education is certainly no exception. Things might not go smoothly at first. Where we all go from there is how we show who we are as students and educators.
The prospect of handling a comprehensive exam in every single class can be intimidating. With that being said, here are some tips that I have found extremely useful in juggling it all, along with some advice on how to best communicate during these stressful times.
Stay Organized
My number one tip is to write down your assignments in either an agenda or online calendar. This is applicable all year round, but especially as we approach finals week. Sometimes professors give out assignments that hold snippets of the final, and missing those means you miss out on content that would help you in getting a good grade. Additionally, your professors may be more lenient with due dates for assignments, but they are still expected to further your knowledge of a subject, so you are still expected to do the work assigned. Getting organized and laying out what’s going on in school will make your life significantly less stressful.
Keep in Contact
Next, increase communication in every aspect of your life that you can. It is extremely important that if you have a question, that it is asked. Regarding finals, if your professor hasn’t sent out the plan for how your final is expected to occur, ask them. Waiting until the night before to wonder about the format of your final exam (take home, Blackboard, ProctorU, ect) adds unnecessary hardship to your plate. Always ask for resources to prepare for finals, such as a study guide, is vital to any finals week, with this year being no exception. It cannot hurt to ask about what you are confused about, (in any capacity) and professors understand how turbulent prepping for something like finals week will be.
Make a Plan for Taking Your Finals
Additionally, it is crucial that you have planned out your finals week far in advance. Utilizing questions early on can help you to secure a timeline that fits your needs. If you have CEA accommodations, poor WiFi connection, a hostile work environment, or any other situation which may make logging on to take your finals difficult or impossible, you should be addressing those now. Waiting until an hour after your exam was supposed to start to express your “technical difficulties” will probably not cut it with your professors. So, be proactive, and start to plan now. Tell your parents you need the house quiet during specific hours during the first week in May, if possible. Find the best place in your living area for WiFi. Also, do not be afraid to tell your professors about obstacles to your learning. Not everyone is lucky enough to have secure resources during this time. So, let them know what they can do to continue to facilitate your learning and focus better on passing your class with the desired grade.
Lastly, study!
Even though your finals are online, they will still be a comprehensive inquisition into your understand of the semester’s material. Treat them as such, and set aside time the best you can to ensure you do well. Now is the time to be creative! Write final essays outside, video chat with your usual study group, make a studying playlist to get into the academic groove. Take breaks to get some Vitamin D and interact with others remotely. Mental health and how you acclimatize to a period of isolation is extremely personal and important, and you should prioritize it.
This time is what you make of it, so hit the books and get in tune with how to make it to the next time we can all meet again.
