Matthew Preneta ’28 is a devoted cinephile with a sharp interest in political satire. He enjoys spending quality time with friends and family and loves to be creative every chance he gets.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.
It’s 3:00 a.m., your sparkling Celsius has gone flat, your to-go box from the Sadler Center is empty and your computer freezes just as you open yet another tab. Welcome to finals week — a whirlwind of stress, sleep deprivation and constant anxiety, as college students scramble for that coveted A grade.
With one finals week under my belt, I feel qualified to say that as a student body, the way we glorify cram culture isn’t helpful: frankly, it’s dangerous. Whether talking to friends, family or professors, every semester I hear students “complaining” about how little sleep they’ve gotten during the finals season, seemingly competing to be the most unhinged. These badges of perceived success reinforce the false narrative that if you’re not pulling all-nighters, you’re slacking. But this isn’t true. The cram culture here at the College of William and Mary has come to expect students to work themselves to the point of exhaustion, all under the guise of “the college experience.” But at this point, are students really learning anything? Or are they simply revealing their own immaturity and short-sightedness?
Despite what the looming deadlines, staggering workload and limited time might suggest, you CAN maintain a healthy sleep schedule AND do well on your finals. When we stop glorifying overworking, we can address sleep loss, anxiety and burnout for what they truly are: problems.
If I could offer my own advice, start by making a realistic study plan. Working yourself to the point of exhaustion, isolating on the third floor of Earl Gregg Swem Library and chaining yourself to a desk isn’t a good plan. Instead, break your study material into chunks and take breaks. Seriously. Even when you’re in a time crunch, make time to stretch, walk and breathe — not just scroll through TikTok. With a manageable study plan, sleep like it’s your job. Aim for seven to nine hours. Your brain processes information while you sleep. Let it work for you while you rest. Eat what’s healthy, not what’s easy. I get it, the struggle to walk past the Sadler ice cream station and not cave is real. But when you have eaten a balanced meal and not a plate full of french fries or chicken nuggets, your body will thank you. Finally, talk it out. Vent to a friend, family member or stranger in Swem. Study with a buddy or just check in with someone. You’re not alone. Others are in the same boat. Trust me.
To wrap-up, I understand that there are factors outside of students’ control that can necessitate this cram culture, but PLAN. That is the best way to avoid unwanted stress and anxiety. Remember, you’re doing your best, and that’s enough. Good luck!
