As students return from Thanksgiving, they are hit with the startling realization that there are only two weeks left in the semester. With fun activities such as Ethnic Bazaar and the Christmas dance, it can be easy to forget the most important event of all: final exams. Though some students may be pulling out their hair at the thought of finals, others have clear plans of attack.

“I make notecards about two weeks before, and I just keep reviewing them before the test day,” said senior Denali Drake.

Though she hasn’t started her preparation for finals yet, Drake already feels the stress that comes with this time of the year.

“You have to remember every single thing you learn that semester in one test and do well on it,” said Drake.

Sophomore Sam Schubert doesn’t stress much when it comes to finals, but she does take her studying seriously.

“I do study guides; I like to use notecards a lot; I like to get someone in my house and explain something to them because it helps to know what I know and what I don’t know,” said Schubert.

Though many students freak out over finals, Schubert advises against it.

“I think they start over-thinking what’s going on. They start thinking, ‘This is the end, and I’ll fail the class,’ That’s not true,” said Schubert.

Freshman Abby Gowen isn’t sure what to expect with her first Mercy finals, but the anxiety hasn’t quite hit her yet. She has, however, gotten some good advice from upperclassmen.

“Most people say to study hard and not wait until the last minute,” said Gowen.

Studying for finals can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Take some time to draw up a study plan; complete your study guides and make flashcards if that helps you; invite your friends over for a study session; give yourself incentive for every question you get right (an M&M or a pretzel or whatever you like to snack on while you study). If you’re a freshman, attend one of Link Crew’s study events. If you’re an upperclassman, stop by NHS tutoring. No matter how you choose to study, don’t forget to give yourself a break every now and then. Most importantly, remember that your finals are only a piece of your grade, not the deciding factor.