Across campus, students are preparing for the second wave of finals this year. In 7th Street café, students charge up with caffeine, accompanied by the scent of freshly brewed coffee. In Bertrand Library students multiply each day like bacteria, where the silence of the old stale air is only broken by the frantic flipping of pages. And at desks across campus – from dorm rooms to hidden study spots – Bucknellians are like soldiers in a bunker, strategizing how to overcome the imminent battle: finals week. And while it is vital to focus on exams and work, it is equally as important to be mindful of your mental health to finish out the school year strong.

Organizing your workload is critical for a smooth and healthy finals week. Managing a workload can be comparable to the building and maintenance of a bonfire. Bonfires are nice to sit around with friends and family, creating a welcoming vibe. But when building a bonfire, I don’t put all the logs on at once – although it would be pretty cool to see tall flames, it wouldn’t be sustainable. Similarly, when doing work, I don’t try to cram all of it in during one work session – while it would be great to crank out huge chunks of work, I would be absolutely burnt out after the fact (pun intended). So far in my college experience, I’ve found that time management and organization are key to getting work done in a timely and calm manner, so why should it change for finals week? It shouldn’t. Don’t spend all your logs on one bonfire of work and save yourself from a limbo of exhaustion.

And to those Bucknellians who may be struggling to find the motivation to finish out, stay strong. Summer is right around the corner. If you need inspiration, take a walk through the quad and look around you. Students ditched their winter wardrobes and have shifted to bright summer outfits; the temperature outside has reached high 70s; cherry blossom trees splash streaks of vibrant color across campus; grass and mulch add sweet and earthy aromas to the air, respectively; and looking up reveals the cotton clouds that dot the piercing blue sky. Spring has already sprung and soon we can enjoy summer in its entirety. In addition, I think it’s important to know when you need to take study breaks and pause the work. Personally, I enjoy taking walks outside or playing Spikeball with friends; try and limit the time on your phone. Although Instagram Reels and TikTok can give instant dopamine shots, it’s far more healthy and efficient as a relaxing method to put down the screen and avoid brainrot. 

So, fellow Bucknellians, here we are. In the coffee-scented cafés, page-turning libraries, and student desk bunkers. We are almost there. Remember to commit yourself to work, but never to lose yourself to work. Take breaks when you need to. Enjoy nature. And keep pushing – you got this Bucknell!