While exams season is underway, students are constantly at a loss when dealing with all of the assignments and end of year tasks to complete. There is no absolute cure for end of year academic stress, there is a substantial amount of support and encouragement that can be given during times of academic stress.

One of the resources that is found helpful for students is talking to someone about their anxieties. Jonnell Patton, the 9/10 counselor, explains the positions of counseling: “WCA offers access to a counselor for each grade level. Each counselor has experience walking with students who are struggling with anxiety.”

In this exam season the one thing that counselors want for you is for you to succeed! Having a closed conversation about your emotions or worries beforehand can truly lighten your day, and may have a positive influence on your exams and studying habits.

In many circumstances you may need to decompress your emotions and explain how you are feeling to someone. Patton explains: “A counselor can meet with you and help name and decrease anxiety, can help create a good plan for studying, can take you for a walk to refocus your brain, and provide a calm atmosphere to relax.”

When you revise for exams and your brain is stressed and you’re putting more pressure on yourself to achieve, you may not be able to recall all of the information as well as you desire. Creating a calm environment and space for yourself is key for your success with final exams.

Patton gives some tips and helpful insight on finals week: ”Eat brain-fueled food, have a good routine of getting enough sleep, exercise – outside preferably. Limit caffeine intake. Spend good time with Jesus – being reminded that your worth is not in the grades you earn, but rather in the truth that you are a child of the King. Do something fun and/or creative. Spend time with friends or family and don’t talk about anything you are stressed about.”

Even though you are aiming for good grades and success during finals week, you still need to take care of yourself and distract yourself sometimes.