Over Thanksgiving break, I spent much of my time at my grandma’s house, where the prevailing entertainment was an endless broadcast of football matches. Though I fall into the category of individuals who suddenly discovered a fascination with the NFL coincidentally around the same time Taylor Swift began dating a football player, my tolerance for a continuous stream of touchdowns and tackles has limits. Amidst the football frenzy, I learned some insightful lessons that hold significance as we approach the final stretch of the semester.
Neon green is not for everyone: While I struggle to grasp the intricacies of most football games, one of the things I understand the least is the color choices of some team uniforms. Speaking of which, finals season in college is a lot like neon green — it doesn’t suit everyone. Just as that bright hue clashes with certain complexions, certain study habits and methods might not suit everyone during this intense period. It’s important to recognize that each individual has their own unique approach to tackling exams. What works for one might not work for another, and that’s okay. The key to success during finals is to embrace your own strengths, find what study methods suit you best, and not get discouraged if someone else’s strategies don’t fit your style. Similar to the bold choices of neon green in football uniforms, excelling in finals involves finding your own unique study strategy and recognizing your own shade of success.
Resilience and optimism: During the halftime break of the Seattle Seahawks versus San Francisco 49ers Thanksgiving game, the Seahawks found themselves trailing by a significant 21-point margin. Seeking to rally the team for the second half, their coach delivered a motivating pep talk. One key takeaway was the emphasis on leaving behind what had already happened and instead focusing on what’s ahead to finish on a strong note. They then proceeded to lose by a slightly reduced margin of 18 points, but that’s okay! The message of resilience still resonated, and this same mindset mirrors the upcoming three weeks. If you have encountered rough patches in the semester so far, it’s okay! You can’t change what happened in the past, but fostering a positive outlook for this last stretch can make a difference. Offer yourself a pre-finals pep talk; perhaps you’ll finish stronger than the Seahawks did…
Time management: Understanding the value of time is crucial, especially as we approach the final weeks of the semester. Reflecting on moments spent watching football during Thanksgiving break, I’m not saying it was a waste of time, especially when I quite literally had nothing else to do. However, as academic demands intensify with pending assignments, final exams, and group projects, the significance of time management becomes increasingly evident. Football games can be lengthy, deviating from the standard notion of 15-minute quarters and often extending far beyond that timeframe for some reason. It’s essential to strategically allocate time, which may include declining social invitations or skipping certain extracurricular events. At the same time, it’s equally important to prioritize personal relaxation and happiness. If football happens to be the thing that brings you joy, I’m happy for you. Be sure to strike a balance between responsibilities and self-care to navigate these demanding weeks effectively and spend your time wisely.
Interconnectedness through shared experiences: Football can serve as a great excuse to bring relatives together, serving as a universal language that bridges generational gaps and provides a common ground for shared excitement. This unifying aspect of sports extends beyond the field, echoing the dynamics of the upcoming finals season. During this time, we’re all navigating the same academic challenges, juggling responsibilities, deadlines, and the weight of expectations. Our collective journey through this final stretch forms a bond between us, a silent understanding that we’re not alone in this academic struggle. The solidarity in our shared suffering can offer a sense of comfort and belonging. It’s in these moments of shared stress that we find a strange sense of unity, realizing that we connect on the struggle towards the common goal of academic success.
The Thanksgiving football marathon was more than touchdowns and tackles; it was a canvas for unexpected lessons. Just as each team finds its unique strategies, we also need to embrace our personalized approaches to conquering finals, embodying resilience, managing time, and finding unity in our shared academic journey towards success.
