There’s nothing quite like finals week at Amherst. For one thing, finals week is really finals two weeks because classes end, then there’s a couple days of reading period, followed by exam week, and most of the time, if a class doesn’t culminate in a comprehensive final, then final projects/papers/non-cumulative exams happen right before reading period begins. There’s a huge push to get all of this finished, and then another huge push during finals week. This year, I had two projects, a paper, two performances, and a table tennis tournament during the last week of class and then two exams during finals week, in addition to having to move out of my room and into another for next semester. My friends and faithful readers, it was a rough time.
My first harp performance, which happened to be right before finals week...
It’s funny how, when stress levels rise, everyone is more and more reluctant to leave Val. Everyone lingers a little too long, talking and laughing with friends over a couple extra couples of coffee or tea, before heading on over to each of our favorite study spots. Knowledge of study spots is crucial here because Frost Library is packed during finals. Packed. Study places that have been empty all year are simply not available. You have to get creative—either head over to a local coffee shop, obscure academic lounge, quiet common room, maybe reserve a study room in A-level Frost—because, let me tell you, if you try to go to the third floor of Frost, as I do most of the year, it is quite competitive to get a table. I got to Frost early enough once last week to get a table, and while there, the table next to me opened up—a rare sight to see. And not even one whole minute went by before it was snatched up by someone new. I heard from a friend that, when Frost opens in the morning (I think about 8 AM) during finals week, there’s a mini stampede, like at the opening of a mall on Black Friday, to get inside to claim the best study nooks. Again, being creative with study spots is key.
As you can probably tell, Amherst students take finals week pretty seriously. I think this speaks to the fact that Amherst students are so passionate about what we study. We’re serious, but I also think that finals period shows off Amherst students’ silly sides as well and our inclination to take breaks, laugh, and socialize even when there doesn’t seem to be time for things like that. I’m going to break fun things from finals week into categories: study breaks, breaks from study breaks, de-stressors, independent activities, and food.
Study Breaks: There seems to a different study break hosted by some club or resource center or academic department or dorm, etc. about every hour during finals week. Study breaks are wonderful hiatuses from all the craziness—they always have food, and food = happy students :) They also sometimes include music. Sometimes even fun coloring books.
Breaks From Study Breaks: I wasn’t kidding when I said there was a new study break about every hour. The number of study breaks is pretty overwhelming if you happen to be someone who tries to hit them all. Breaks from study breaks are just that—study spaces that are advertised as open for studying, but they also usually include food.
De-Stressors: Also during finals week, there are a whole bunch of fun de-stressing activities, like massages from the counseling center, yoga, and dogs for petting(!!!).
Independent activities: Students find all sorts of fun ways to spend parts of reading period. Some students who live nearby take trips home. Some take day trips to Boston. Personally, my favorite independent finals activity was a trip to the Yankee Candle Village with some friends. Trust me, if you’re in the Amherst area, visit the Yankee Candle Village- it’s the largest Yankee Candle store in the country, and it doesn’t disappoint.
At the Yankee Candle Village
Food: I already mentioned the food at the study breaks, but honestly, there’s free food everywhere during finals. It’s around every corner. Val hosted late night chocolate fondue night during study period and then midnight breakfast during finals. You have to save room during your regular meals these weeks in anticipation of all of the free food there will be to eat.
Chocolate Fondue!
One of the best parts about finals week, though, is how amazed you are with yourself for getting everything finished. Once you go home and get a little sleep, as I’ve now done, you look back on that double-header two weeks and are genuinely amazed with what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it.
