Finals Week Survival Guide

I crashed during finals week sophomore year. Powering through anxiety, I thought,

made me stronger. I was wrong. I started with five-minute breathing exercises between classes,

just counting to four. Then I broke my study sessions into twenty-minute chunks

instead of marathon crams. This was a game changer. I learned to

tell my roommate when I needed quiet time. We created a group chat where

we could be honest about struggling, no judgment. Turns out half my floor was

dealing with the exact same stuff. I finally visited campus counseling, and that appointment

was the bravest thing I did. Managing anxiety isn't about being perfect; it's about knowing