Ambassador in the Spotlight: Amanda

Finals Week; the words alone make some Adelphi students shutter.  A week full of exams, papers, late nights, tons of coffee (if you are like me) that closes out the end of every semester.  It is the final show, the last hurdle before freedom and while some cannot wait for it to be over, as I approach my final days before graduation I cannot help, but see finals week a little differently.  From the late night c-stores trips to the numerous pep talks I bestowed onto my friends to the necessary daily trips to Dunkin Donuts, finals week will always be some of my favorite memories.  

The key to finals week is to embrace it.  Finals stress is much easier to deal with, if you just accept it and then focus on working hard to doing your best.  At the end of the day, finals week is just one week of the semester and with the right tricks it goes by like a blink of an eye.

1. Ask For Help
• If you need help, get it.  The professors at Adelphi are one-of-a-kind.  Even if you have never visited their office hours before, do not be afraid to go to them and ask questions that will help you ace your exams!
2. Take Breaks
• Studying does not have to be a 24/7 job, even during finals week.  Too much of anything is never a good thing.  Make sure you find time each day to take a break and step away from the books.  It is important to recharge your brain, especially before a test, for maximum success.  A great way to do this is hanging out with friends, taking a nap or going to the Center for Recreation and Sports for a quick workout.

3. Find Support From Within Your Friends
• You know the saying “we are all in this together”, well it never rings more truth than it does during finals week.  Everyone has exams to study for and papers to write.  The best part about Adelphi is we care about one another and we are there to support one another.  In fact, some of my closest friendships at Adelphi were formed during finals week.
4. Find Your Study Spot
• Adelphi offers so many different places to study that you are bound to find your perfect location.  There is the Nexus Building, the Underground Cafe, the cliche Swirbul Library (shout out to Club Swirbz) and my favorite spot, the Waldo Quad.  Nothing beats studying outside in the fresh air and playing music while studying with friends!

5. Eat Well and Sleep Well
• Self care, even during finals week is so important!  Make sure you are getting a full night of sleep, especially before exams. Be sure to eat healthy as your brain is powered by the food you eat and it ensures that you use all your extra meals for the semester!
6. Switch Subjects
• If you take anything away from these tips, let it be this one.  The trick to surviving finals week is to put time into all of your classes.  Odds are you will have a day or two with two finals and you will need to figure out how to balance having different subjects.  The key to is to switch around.  It allows your brain to refresh and it allows you to stay ahead on your tests that are later in the week.
7. See You Laters: Are The Worst Part
• The one thing everyone fails to mention, is once finals are over, friends head back home and seniors graduate.  The end of the week is full of “see you laters” and because the friendships you make at Adelphi mean the world, they are without a doubt the worst part, until you make awesome summer meet up plans.

From laughing fits with new found friends to tearful goodbyes, finals week is more than just a week of exams and papers.  Before you know it, it will be your turn to graduate and I can guarantee you will not remember the stress from your tests, but the memories you have made at Adelphi that will last you a lifetime.