Undergraduate students coming fresh off the Thanksgiving break were met this week with the sobering reality of finals and the end of a semester. For many, this may have been a rude wake-up call that those term papers and looming final exams were not as far away as they seemed. As early as Sunday night, students began holing themselves up in libraries, study rooms and the Baseball Glove Lounge with their books and notes.

This semiannual time of loads of stress and little sleep can be overwhelming for freshmen and seniors alike. Faced with this daunting task, students run the risk of either pushing themselves too hard or consigning themselves to failure.

Instead, we should make sure to spend these next two weeks of studying and finals working hard while maintaining at least a modicum of sanity. A delicate balancing act, this will require focus, patience and perhaps several cups of coffee daily. What students should avoid is the temptation to decelerate before reaching the finish line. After all the hard work and time each one of us have put into our classes and activities over the last semester, these final days are not the time to take it easy.

On the other hand, study overkill can lead to fatigue and a lapse in comprehension. Spending too much uninterrupted time hitting the books may do more harm than good. All-nighters may be necessary to meet paper deadlines, but better time management and more efficient studying tactics can make them avoidable. Not even 30 hours of studying can beat a good night’s sleep. Students should be confident in their own knowledge and skills, particularly if they have been studious over the last few months.  
So, take a healthy study break occasionally, spend a little time with friends, sleep when the opportunity arises and stick it out until the very end. The lesson in endurance may be the most beneficial Vanderbilt has to offer.  —Michael Warren