Students crowded around tables at the Northbrook Public Library, hunching over keyboards and scribbling down notes. Some clustered at the vending machines for a much-needed snack or drink after hours of studying. Those who had not managed to reserve a desired study room spread out in common areas, talking quietly as they worked. During finals week, the library became the home of students preparing for exams.
For some of us, this week is one of the most stressful periods of the school year. We may fear scoring poorly on heavily weighted exams, worry about studying and using our time effectively or lose motivation as the semester concludes. These factors can all foster frustration, which is intensified by the fact that friends at other schools do not have to take final exams. Although we may wish that we too did not have to worry about finals, we must not overlook the importance of these tests.
Final exams teach us the work ethic and study skills critical to succeed in college and eventual employment. The final grades we receive are not necessarily indicative of our forthcoming success. Rather, our mindset and effort during finals week indicate how we will respond to inevitable challenges in the future.
While different departments weigh finals at varying amounts, exams that are worth 20 percent seem daunting and can threaten hard-earned grades. However, college midterms and finals are often worth a larger percentage of a student’s grade. Those who do not take finals during high school may find themselves unprepared for cumulative exams in college.
Even outside of an academic context, finals can make us more resilient. Hours spent studying can be grueling, but being able to work toward a long-term goal is a skill that benefits us later in life.
As the tasks we face grow larger and more demanding, we must have a foundation for how to take on these challenges and handle the pressure they create. Finals week may be painful, but being unprepared for the future hurts worse.