With Lonestar finals being next week for DC kids, AP tests coming up in the next two weeks, and all other finals right around the corner, finals season is in full swing.. With that, the stress that characterizes this time of year is notably in the air around campus. While it may seem like there is nothing that can be done but keep studying and working, many different schools, especially colleges, go out of their way to show support to their hard-working students. 

The best way to ensure that students succeed is for schools to encourage them, lend a helping hand and acknowledge how far they’ve come.

 The University of Houston offers a whole an entire week of activities called “Stress-Free Finals”. Starting with the “Stress-Free Finals Kickoff”, the week-long event is filled with opportunities for free meals, activities such as Lego building, tie-dye, a farmer’s market and even a volunteer-based campus clean up. Events like this in schools are so important because they make the students feel supported and will give them the motivation they need to get through an anxiety-inducing week of final exams, allowing them to finish the semester strong. When it comes to getting a degree and higher academics, it sometimes takes a strong community to make it there.

There are also many schools that will bring in therapy dogs during finals week. Research has shown that the simple act of petting or interacting with animals can reduce someone’s cortisol levels. Bringing a fluffy friend into schools for students can give them a moment to relax and a moment of joy within a week full of tests and anxiety.

Regardless of whether a school offers de-stress activities, it is crucial that every student also does things for themselves to help their mental health during these challenging times. It can be as simple as going outside to study or getting some exercise in, students should also try their best not to isolate themselves and practice self-care.

Whatever it is that students may be handling right now, please remember it is okay to take breaks, and no matter what score is on that final, the sun will still rise again the next morning. Even though it can absolutely feel like it, finals are not the end of the world, and students should remember they are more than capable of crushing it.