University Star

The last final before summer usually leaves students with a big, end-of-the-semester sigh of relief. Bobcats said they head to The Square to feel that new freedom or make the most of their unique celebration techniques to let go of a long, hard-worked semester.

Troy Skinner, sociology freshman, said the first thing he does after finals is focus on how the exams went.

“I pray. That’s what I always do after,” Skinner said. “(To take away the stress) I exercise or talk to my son.”

Students like Robert Hesselbrock, physics sophomore, take the after-finals time to get far away from the school atmosphere.

“I’m going to pack up all the crap in my dorm and get out of town,” he said.

According to Mayoclinic.com, relaxation techniques can give a number of health and lifestyle benefits. Fewer negative physical symptoms, more energy, improved concentration, fewer negative emotional responses and more efficiency in daily activities are a few benefits.

“(To de-stress) I listen to some good music and maybe dance around a little. It helps,” Hesselbrock said.
Mayoclinic.com entails that music and exercise are helpful relaxation techniques, along with meditation, massage and yoga.

Jennifer Trayan, advertising junior, finds physical and mental activity to be relaxing after stressful situations.

“I work out or do something like sudoku,” Trayan said. “Both activities take my mind off of all the things that I have to do, and they help me regain focus again. Working out always makes me feel better.”

Students, if they have the time, also choose to unwind by catching up on lost sleep.

“I am scheduled to work immediately after my last final,” said Trayan. “But after work, I plan on probably sleeping for at least 10 hours. I feel like I don’t get nearly enough sleep during the week, but May 12 will be a great day to catch up on it.”

Faculty members may not get the luxury of celebrating quite so soon.

“After my last final, I’m grading the papers, filing the grades online and doing my editing work,” said Christopher Marquiss, program faculty in the Center for the Study of the Southwest. “In the days following, I’ll be at my office editing the two literary journals and doing layout to go to press. That will take a couple more weeks.”

Students said they have acted impulsively after finishing finals.

“I tried burning my political science book once,” said Hesselbrock. “It didn’t burn though. They wouldn’t pay me for it (when I tried selling it back), because they were going to use the new edition.”

Skinner said he got so excited after finding out a good grade that he screamed in the elevator.

According to jhunewsletter.com, dining out and celebrating by “going crazy” are some helpful ways to feel relieved after finals.
Some students have the whole summer to forget about those stressful finals, but others chose to jump into the crammed summer sessions.

“I would love to relax this summer,” Trayan said. “However, I am taking summer classes and working 25-hour weeks. But the few precious moments I will have, I will probably seek refuge by the river or on my couch.”