As fun as it may be, the university experience is not all clubs, classes and camaraderie, which is especially obvious as the first day of final exams creeps closer. Deadlines have begun to pile up, and stress levels rise across campus. Yet for some students, the key to getting through exam season is not simply studying harder but remembering to take care of themselves and rely on the community around them, which is certainly the case for these graduate students in their masters.
For Natasha Ferguson, one of the most meaningful parts of the semester has been the people around her. She says the support from fellow students has made a noticeable difference during what has otherwise been a challenging term.
“I would say the support of the students around me has probably been my highlight,” Ferguson said. “It’s been a tough semester, so the people in this program that I connect with have been super supportive.”
That sense of connection has also shaped how she approaches the end of the semester. While studying can easily become all-consuming during exam season, Ferguson encourages students to step back and focus on their well-being as part of a collective rather than to face it alone.
“Honestly, just make sure you take breaks in your studying,” she said. “Don’t let your anxiety get the best of you. We’ve all been there.”
Ferguson shared that moments of rest and self-care are not distractions from studying but tools that actually help students perform better. When students take time to reset mentally, they often return to their work with greater focus and improved retention.
“Pour yourself into your self-care,” she said. “You’ll notice your studying is going to be better and you’re going to retain more.”
In other words, the motivational posters plastered in the stalls of nearly every bathroom on campus aren’t just there for a pleasant distraction. Caring for your mental health first can help your academic results show later.
Other students share a similar perspective on the importance of community during the semester. For Lex Edwards, one of the highlights of the term has been forming friendships with peers who share the same academic drive.
“My highlights were making friends with people that are academically equal,” Edwards said.
Surrounding yourself with motivated and like-minded classmates can make a big difference when workloads increase and stress builds. It’s as they say: it takes a village. In essence, studying together, exchanging ideas and supporting one another can help make difficult academic periods feel more manageable when you’re in the trenches.
When asked for advice for students heading into exams, Lex offered a straightforward message.
“Just do it,” he said. “Just do what you’ve got to do. You came here for a reason, and you have to trust yourself.”
For Mikayla Stocks, the highlight of the semester has also centred around the academic community and the ability to share ideas with peers who feel the same excitement about learning.
“I’m really happy to be around academics that sort of feel the same way I do,” Stocks said. “We can connect and there’s a lot of support.”
Stocks is currently focused on developing her thesis in human rights and social justice, a process she says has been rewarding because it allows her to begin putting her ideas into writing.
“I’m also happy to be working on my thesis and putting some of my ideas into writing,” Stocks said.
Although Stocks’ program does not include traditional exams, she is a veteran academic with plenty of experience in exams and understands the stress many students feel as finals approach. Her message for those preparing for tests is one of encouragement.
“I know it’s stressful, but you’re almost there,” she said. “Just push through.”
Support systems on campus can also play an important role in helping students navigate academic pressure. Emma Chirico, a tutor at the writing centre, says some of the most meaningful moments this semester have come from seeing students advocate for their community and the many supports available on-campus.
“The highlight of my semester was participating in the town hall last week,” Chirico said. “It was just a really endearing moment where I could see the passion behind the student body and people fighting for students to have resources and access to services.” As someone who works closely with students through tutoring, Chirico says building relationships and trust is a key part of helping people succeed academically. University can sometimes feel isolating, she said, which is why connection and community matter.
“As a tutor, I find it really important to connect with students on the community level to build trust, rapport and relationships,” Chirico said. “University can be a really isolating time, and it’s important to take care of yourself and connect with your peers.”
Her advice for exam season echoes much of what other students emphasized: pacing yourself and planning ahead can make a stressful period more manageable.
“Going into finals, please pace yourself,” Chirico said. “Please take care of yourself and plan accordingly.”
The wise words of Chirico are not restricted to test day but are just as important for what comes after. Chirico encourages students to recognize the work they have put in throughout the semester.
“When it’s done, treat yourself to something,” she said.
Together, the students’ advice reflects a common theme. Exam season may be challenging, but support, self-care and trust in yourself can make the process far more manageable. As the semester draws to a close, their message to fellow students is clear: take care of yourself, lean on the people around you and remember that the hard work you have already put in has brought you this far.