Finals are less than a week away and once again, “Dead Week” is upon us. 

“Dead Week” is a time for all those semester projects and papers, final assignments and professors to talk as quickly as possible to finish those last minute lectures and squeeze as much information as possible out of their mouths. 

I understand the origins of why “Dead Week” began, but I hate how it forces college students to overwork themselves. 

I believe the week before finals should be relaxing and less stressful. I understand the need for a semester paper to be due this week. It is already a daunting task for the professor to get all those papers read and graded before final grades are due. But, the students shouldn’t have to fret too much about finishing up that paper if they used their time wisely throughout the semester. 

The issue arises when I not only have a final paper that I am trying to make sure is as perfect as possible, but when I have new, multiple last minute quizzes and assignments requiring my attention. In times past, I have had professors give extra readings to make sure that our class learned everything that we needed to know because they ran out of lecture time to explain everything that they wanted. I believe that if we are to have readings to make up for them running out of time, then let us have these readings early on so we are not stressing out more when we are also worrying about when we are going to have time to study for finals. 

I am extremely busy during school and already have to drink more coffee than I should just to stay awake for those 2 p.m. classes. But when I am drinking three times more coffee than what I am use to, I know that something is wrong. 

If professors would warn students of all their readings, try to not make quizzes take place the week before finals, understand that life never gives us enough time to do what we want to do so just teach up till you run out of time and work with the students on not overworking them the week before finals; I believe that the students will be able to not only get the rest they need for finals, but they will also have adequate study time as long as they have used their time wisely.