As the school year ends, students face one last academic hurdle. For some, it’s a final sprint. Others feel stuck, exhausted from everything that came before. Finals season has officially arrived, and it hits everyone differently.
Some days it’s obvious just walking into class with empty seats, and students who show up look like they haven’t slept. Students are whispering about how much work they still have left and how they study for finals. For many students, these last few weeks feel like hitting a wall. It’s not that they don’t care; they’re just tired. Their energy runs out after months of juggling school, jobs, sports, and personal events. Some skip classes to catch up on sleep or stay home because facing another lengthy to-do list is impossible. Even the most motivated students start to burn out when everything piles up at once.
Sophomore Zinnia Law says this time of year makes it especially hard to stay focused. “I used to feel super driven about completing my work, but now it’s different,” she says. “I get home and I just sit there. I know I have stuff to do, but I can’t make myself do it.” For her, the challenge is more about feeling mentally checked out than anything else.
She’s not alone. Many students carry quiet burdens, jobs, family pressure, or simply the stress of being stretched too thin. These struggles make it hard to prioritize school in the last weeks. The way finals are structured doesn’t always leave space for recovery. While tackling everything at once is good, completing all finals in four days can be overwhelming.
However, while some students feel stuck, others find ways to push through the chaos. They’re not immune to stress, but they’ve figured out strategies to manage it before it gets overwhelming.
Sophomore Brody Antrobus works shifts during the week until 10 P.M. and still finds ways to stay on top of his studying. “I keep a list of everything I have to do and break it down. It’s less overwhelming that way. If I just tell myself to start with one thing, it’s so much easier to keep going.” Antrobus also mentioned that he quickly burns out if he doesn’t give himself breaks. He makes time for simple things that help him stay balanced, like listening to music or hanging out with friends.
That kind of structure and self-awareness make a big difference. Students who space out their work, take short breaks, and check in with themselves emotionally tend to stay more balanced, even when finals hit hard. What makes it harder for some students than others usually comes down to circumstances. If students are working long hours after school or learning differently than how things are traditionally taught, finals are going to feel heavier.
In the end, this time of year is less about who has perfect grades and more about who can push through the work. Whether you’re powering through with planners and playlists or just trying to make it day by day, everyone handles it differently, and that’s okay.
