Alright, let’s get down to business and discuss what’s really wrecking our lives right now: midterms. Ah yes, midterms, that delightful time meant to assess and guide us toward a better performance in finals. In theory, they’re supposed to help us, maybe even make us “serious” students. Trust me, just ask me—I know a thing or two about “becoming serious” during midterms.

But let’s be honest—something’s gone horribly wrong here. We’re only two months into the semester and suddenly we’re being evaluated like it’s Judgment Day. Some of these professors are testing us on concepts we barely practiced, and don’t even get me started on the curve situation. It’s wild. A friend of mine actually considered dropping a class, and the library looks like a scene out of a survival movie—students are camping out there 24/7, passing out, getting sick and becoming nocturnal creatures.

But here’s the thing: I want to give professors some credit here. A lot of them really do have our best interests in mind. I’ve had conversations with a few, and they honestly believe that this is all part of preparing us for the “real world.” And let’s face it, they’re not entirely wrong. The world isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Professors are pushing us to rise to the challenge, not just for the sake of the grade, but for what comes after.

That said, I do believe that striking the right balance is key. Sometimes a student’s poor performance on midterms just discourages them, when the focus should be on growth. But hey, some professors are going the extra mile to help us, offering office hours, additional help and flexibility where they can. They genuinely want to see us succeed. So, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt—they’re playing the long game here.

Now, for my fellow students, here’s my advice: yes, midterms are tough, but guess what? So is life. We’ve got to learn to handle the pressure. So here are some quick tips:

1.Time management: Don’t leave everything for the night before. Trust me on this.

2.Study groups: Misery loves company and you’ll absorb more info that way.

3.Eat properly: Energy drinks aren’t a substitute for food. Take care of yourself.

4.Prioritize: Focus on what’s most important and tackle it one step at a time.

5.Take breaks: You won’t remember anything if your brain is fried.

On that note, I’ve got an impossibly hard exam looming, so I need to study. Wish me luck—or don’t—because we all know how this is going to go.