We all know it’s coming: Finals. They are unavoidable and a guaranteed week full of little sleep, lots of stress, and provoked angst and aggression. So when the going gets rough, you’ve got to get tough. Just like your high school team huddles before you took the field, pep talks have a way of stirring up just enough energy and motivation to get you through the all-nighter or the early morning exam. Don’t worry, you’re allowed to collapse after.
1. What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger: Thank you, Kelly Clarkson for making this a mantra we can not only follow, but sing along to as well. As hard as it may be, try to remember that finals will end and you will survive. If you’re one of those who can study while listening to music (not me L), then you are golden.
2. I think I can I think I can: For most of us, this was the first pep talk we ever got, and it came from the pages of a children’s book with a train engine. He made it to the top of the hill, didn’t he? Lesson learned.
3. The Best Never Rest: Somewhere within the hours of studying, you will hit a wall. Whether it is exhaustion or the too familiar feeling of being fed up with your notes and textbooks, the time will come when you feel like you just can’t do it. But giving up will not get you the grade you’ve been working so hard for, so think of all your classmates who are spending hours on Facebook and Pinterest and decide to better than that.
4. You Get What You Give: Easy to remember. If you put in the work, you will get the grades. If you slack off and procrastinate, your report card may not look too hot.
5. Work Hard, Play Hard: This pep talk brings out the very best quality of finals: they have to end! And when they do, finally, you not only get to relax, but you get summer. The magic word. Time for sun-soaked beaches, nights out with friends, and refreshing fruit smoothies on a hot day. Can you taste it yet?
6. Laughter is the Best Medicine: Instead of studying by yourself, grab a friend and post up in the library for some intense review sessions. You’ll be more motivated to study if you have someone there to judge you if you get distracted and slack off. When you need a break, catch up on some quick gossip that will make you laugh and relieve some stress.
7. Have a Little Faith: This is something that I need to remember. It is easy to become overwhelmed by test upon test in such a short period of time, but believing that everything will work out helps. Besides, letting your nerve get in the way of your focus is counterproductive. So trust your gut and calm down knowing you have everything you need to succeed right in front of you.
8. Go-Fight-Win: You probably have only heard this coming from the sidelines as cheerleaders root for their team. But the point of cheerleaders is to pump us up, right? Take that same mentality as you gear up to plow through chapters one through four before lunch.
9. Rock On: The most overlooked aspect of studying is reflection. As you lay down to go to sleep or take a much needed snack break, look back at all you’ve accomplished. If it is a significant chunk of material, it will feel good and lift some of the weight from your shoulders. If all you can reflect upon is distraction and half-hearted notecards, hopefully that twinge of guilt will put you back into the game.
10. Miracle: And you thought I was going to leave this out. Quite possibly the best pep talk ever is the one so eloquently given in the movie Miracle. I’m sure you have at least one friend who can quote the whole speech from memory. Call them up and have them say the magic words, and you will be one step closer to nailing your finals. Good luck!