An Ode to Finals Season

As the long-awaited Dec. 20 draws near, we here at 4E have prepared an ode to undoubtedly the merriest time of the year: FINALS SZN. Whether you’re reading this post in the sanctity of your own dearly missed home, at your ~unique~ vacation spot in Mexico or on the Hilltop waiting for your unfortunately-scheduled math final, we can relate to what you’re feeling:

So, without further ado, let’s all take a moment to reflect on Georgetown’s beloved stress culture, appreciate the ~high-quality~ Whisk coffee that has fueled us thus far and give ourselves a pat on the back for succeeding  doing relatively well surviving this semester!

After endless midterms, weeks of studying all night,

there’s a brief respite, then finals are in sight.

It seems like it’s always time to buckle down

but that’s just part of being at Georgetown

The struggle is real as you prep for Bib Lit —

but what can you expect from the Jesuits?

You’ve got 99 problems, the first is Of God,

and in time you’re exposed as a Catholic fraud.

In your first exam, those wretched blue books appear

and before too long, they’re stained with your tears.

You fight through hand cramps for two hours straight,

and from nine to eleven, your heart palpitates.

Lau 2 is love, Lau 2 is life —

just kidding, that place is a hellhole of strife.

You wonder, will these troubles ever be over?

It’s been awhile since you’ve been this sober.

You’ve studied forever, it seems like a time warp,

and while waiting at MUG, you curse the capitalist Corp.

Later that day, you procrastinate more:

It was feeling too lonely up on Lau 4.

You’re buried in books on a Saturday night —

to friends at state schools, it’s a pitiful sight.

It’s only midnight, but the future looks bleak.

You remind yourself, though, that sleep’s for the weak.

But when you finally get into the swing of things,

to no one’s surprise, Lau’s fire alarm rings.

So you make your way over to good ol’ Leavey —

should four flights of stairs really make you this wheezy?

Texts from your friends say they’re already on break,

but at least they’ll be free to attend your wake.

You’re struggling to find the will to survive,

indeed, you fall short of the expectation to thrive.

“How to learn French in a day,” you search online.

You’d forgotten “Bonjour”— probably not a good sign

After handing in your final subpar paper,

it looks like life’s finally turned in your favor.

Though GPA-wise, there may be reason to fear,

that’ll be a problem you save for next year.

The holidays will provide plenty of reason

for you to repress this finals season.

Walking past Healy, you take a pic and proceed,

“until next semester!” your Snapchat story reads.

Suitcase in hand, you feel an upswing in mood

at the thought of three weeks without Leo’s food.

You search for your Uber outside the front gates —

What’s taking so long? New Jersey awaits!

~Happy Hoyadays~ from all of us at 4E!

Photos/Gifs: giphy.com, tumblr.com

Things You Would Never See On Campus

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As spring approaches and the weather gets better, people are starting to leave their 100 foot radius and re-enter Georgetown society. Old friends start to re-emerge and campus actually becomes energetic.

To prepare you for this time of year, here are some things you will never see on campus. Because you need to get yourself ready to be disappointed.

1. Girls carrying iced coffees (especially not Starbucks iced coffee). Caffeine would never be found on a college campus, especially not in a cold, easy to consume form! I don’t think I have ever even seen an “iced coffee”, do they even exist?

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2. A line at Corp locations, especially Midnight Mug or UG. I am a frequent visitor of the Leavey Center and in my 3 years I have never waited for more than two minutes at a Corp location. So as you emerge from your winter cocoon be sure to head to these places ASAP!

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3. People dressed incredibly inappropriate for the weather. Hoyas understand temperature and would never wear shorts in 50 degree weather. Due to this, it is rare that Hoyas even get sick, especially during this time of year.

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4. Frisbee being played on the front lawn. Sports? What is that? Wouldn’t it be dangerous for people to walk across the lawn if they were in danger of being pelted by flying sports equipment. This is even ridiculous to say. What are you going to say next, that we even have a team dedicated to frisbee?

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5. Stressed out students complaining in very public places. Georgetown students are the opposite of stressed and dramatic! I seldom see people skipping around campus, especially before Econ midterms and language exams. If we all were accepted here, why do we need to try?

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Welcome to spring on the most unrealistic campus on the planet!

Photos/Gifs: tumblr.com; imgur.com; giphy.com; s3.amazonaws.com; somosnapa.org; theodysseyonline.com

How to De-stress and Get Happy

HappyWith ongoing midterms (and finals around the corner), it’s easy for GU student stress levels to run exceedingly high. All-nighters in Lau can take quite a toll, and sometimes naps – although quite beneficial – just aren’t enough to alleviate the negative effects of the high-workload, fast-paced lifestyle of the Hilltop. For that reason, 4E has compiled a special list of stress relievers that can make every Hoya relaxed and happy.

1. Watch a Disney movie I don’t know what it is – the nostalgia, the opening montage where they show the Cinderella castle, how relatable the characters are to your friends on the Hilltop or even the word “Disney” itself – but something about Disney movies can bring out happiness in everyone. Click here for a complete list in ranked order.

2. Go to the Georgetown waterfront and sit by the Potomac Studies indicate that water has a soothing effect on the mind and can help people to find their zen. Take a moment to relish in the relaxing effects of the Potomac. For an added bonus, sit down and watch the sunset behind the Key Bridge … or grab a relaxing bite at Farmers Fishers Bakers.

3. Play hooky I’m not joking. Sometimes, the best way to avoid the stress of those 200-person lectures is to simply skip class. If you think you won’t be productive or paying attention, you might as well use that time for something more useful. In your newfound free time, try out something on our list or don’t get out of bed. You’ve earned it. (Do not make it a habit, though.)

4. Do something you love doing simply because you love doing it Sometimes college can take away from the hobbies we love the most. Take some time to bring them back into your life. Have a favorite band? Go see them. Want to read a book about 18th century Europe? Do it. Step back from what is required, and look into what you actually need at this moment.

5. Go to a restaurant that has your favorite food For me, it’s the rhubarb pie at Dangerously Delicious Pies on H Street. Take a moment, find your comfort food and seek it out. Your belly will thank you.

6. Talk to someone you haven’t in awhile Nothing feels better than reconnecting with a old friend. Reminisce about good times or plan some new good times. Either way, remove yourself from current stress and invest some time in your friendships.

7. Do something nice for a complete stranger Volunteer your time. Give a compliment. Donate a dollar. Buy a cup of coffee. Swipe someone into Leo’s. A random act of kindness can go a long way, especially to someone you don’t even know (and it will probably make you feel better, too).

8. Spoil yourself That’s right. Spoil your diet. Buy that item of clothing you probably shouldn’t. Order dessert. Fog up the entire bathroom when you take a shower. Sometimes you need to forget the rules and live just for you.

9. Walk (or run) outside Fresh air works wonders on a clouded mind. Get those endorphins pumping on one of our favorite running trails.

10. Smile Research shows that whether real or fake, smiling really makes you happier. Besides, if Simon Cowell can do it, so can you:

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11. [Insert Your Happiness Here] The ball’s in your court. Whatever your methodology, take the time to destress and get happy. We aren’t doctors here at 4E, but hey, we’re ordering you to do it anyway.

Photo: Iagiftshop

Making It Through Finals Alive

Finals 1Let’s face it, most of us are currently riding the struggle bus. Finals can be rough, and whether you have 3 exams on the same day or 170 pages of papers to write, we believe that you can make it through somehow. But to make the process a little easier, here are some tips to help you survive the next week and a half before glorious summer.

Self Control Whether it’s your own self control or the app (personally I recommend the app, it’s much more reliable), find a way to focus on your work. Get off Facebook, quit scrolling through old whatshouldwecallme posts, stop making memes of your friends.

Give It a Rest Make sure you’re not sacrificing too much sleep. I’m not going to tell you to get your 8 hours a night or avoid cramming because that’s not realistic, but think twice about pulling an all-nighter and going straight into an exam. You know how loopy you get around 4 a.m.? That’s probably not the best state to be taking a test that’s worth 25% of your grade in. Try to sneak in a few hours to refresh your mind. Sleepyti.me is a helpful tool that will calculate the best times to plan to wake up so you’re not groggy when you get up.

Find Your Groove Even the quietest of quiet spaces is going to have some background noise. Whether you need to tune out the loud conversations of Lau 2 or just drown out that guy who brought a selection of crunchy snacks into the quiet room, have some music on tap that will help you focus. Classical music is great (personally I’m a fan of the Lord of the Rings soundtrack), but if that’s not your thing go for something that won’t make you want to dance or sing along. See our Finals Fixat10ns from last semester for a start.

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