With finals season approaching fast, many students may be experiencing heightened levels of stress. Luckily, Lake Forest Academy is prepared to support its students with a variety of events designed to lower anxiety and promote connection and wellbeing. Here are some of the plans for this year, as well as general tips for dealing with stress.
Caxy Cafe will be returning for its third year and will be open the evenings of December 15 and 16, the Monday and Tuesday of finals. Led by the Academic Dean’s Office and the Health and Wellness Prefects, Caxy Cafe is a great opportunity for students to study together in a supportive environment with available assistance from teachers. From warm drinks to cozy seating and whiteboards, Reid hall transforms into the perfect spot to review with friends. This year will feature treats such as coffee, hot chocolate and cookies in a festively decorating atmosphere.
This is only one of many study spots across campus. While upper Reid, lower Corbin and the Student Center are usually the popular study spaces, during finals season the Caxy Cafe is a must-see when cramming for finals. More study areas to explore for more private and focused settings are the new study pods in lower Corbin and the private rooms near the Media Commons.
Something new this year will be a health and wellness themed weekend in the middle of finals. Some events will include puppy yoga, a movie night showing “Inside Out 2,” cookie decorating, a 3-on-3 basketball game and more. Health and Wellness Prefect Charley Gopin ‘26 said, “This weekend will be a good way to rest and reset for finals and to prioritize mental health even when studying is overwhelming.”
Another event to look forward to with finals around the corner is the annual End of Semester Treats. This yearly tradition is put together by volunteers from the Parents Association and is much beloved by every member of the LFA community, teachers and students alike. It involves a wide array of sugary goods – ranging from homemade cookies to ramen – to help fuel students as they take on the first days of finals.
Head of School treats are another tradition in which the head of school supplies snacks for students throughout finals. Last year, this was a popcorn machine. Be sure to keep an eye out for what is being offered this year and make the most of this treat.
Students are encouraged to celebrate and look back on their accomplishments of the semester, building an uplifting and confident atmosphere around finals rather than succumbing to the stressful pressures of final projects and tests.
When preparing for finals, it is important to remember to take care of your mental health. It can be tempting to pull all-nighters cramming for exams, but sleep deprivation will only hurt your studying. Director of Health Services Jennifer Madeley said, “Cramming can overwork your brain, causing more anxiety, stress, fatigue and we know that that’s not helpful when taking exams.”
Taking advantage of the school planners or personal calendars can be a great way to plan out your approach. Madeley recommends spacing out studying as it is best “to do a little for longer than a lot in a short period of time.” This means forming your study plan as soon as possible. Madeley added, “When you put together a study plan, all of those things should be in there. Breaks should be in it, sleep should be in it, and that should be part of the overall study plan.”
Supplementing studying with going on walks, reading or doing a hobby you enjoy can be a great way to maintain balance during this stressful season. Moreover, mindfulness, yoga, meditation and breathing exercises are helpful for remembering that break is just around the corner.
If the stress becomes too overwhelming, the Health Center is always available as a resource. Madeley says, “There’s outside things that come in that also affect your stress and your time and we can help with that.” Whether it is purely finals or something else interfering with your studying, she emphasizes, “They can always come to the Health Center if they need to decompress.”
Health, Wellness and Community (HWC) Chair Erin English aims to remind students of the yearly HWC curriculum that includes lessons about exam prep, mindfulness and covers what is referred to as “perfection paralysis.” She says these carefully crafted lessons are “designed to give students an outlet to release stress, bonding time with peers and the confidence to handle difficult tasks.”
English also recommends participating in fun, stress-reducing weekend activities like crafting. This creative outlet helps take your mind off the stressors of finals week. Lastly, English impresses the importance of basic self care like sleeping enough, staying hydrated, taking walks and exercising to get rid of excess nervous energy.