Everyone knows that final exams make you weirder than you already are. Literally, as if you aren't weird enough already as a student...
No one questions your odd diet which is largely based off of Ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese (bonus points if it's of a microwavable variety), peanut butter/nutella, cookies, chips, and other snack-like foods that require little to no preparation.
The fact that you can sleep until the middle of the day is completely acceptable and your enthusiasm for naps is completely understandable.
Any odd drinking habits you may possess are socially acceptable because you have to suffer the whips and scorns of post-secondary life.
Your coffee consumption probably rivals that of a 40-something businessman.
Sweatpants are no longer a comfortable alternative but a semester-long commitment.
My hairdresser even commented on the fact that my hair completely lacks style. When she asked if I wanted a side bang, I responded "I can't deal with that, it would be in my face and I love my bun too much." She then responded by acknowledging the fact that many of her clients who are students love their buns too, and if they have bangs, they end up cutting them themselves when they start to grow out because they get in their face. I said it's best that I don't lie to myself.
I had always heard in high school that guys like college/university girls because they wear less make up. It's not that they suddenly become more confident in their appearance and don't feel a need for it... it's because they want that extra ten minutes of sleep.
Once final exams roll around, you're up literally all night studying (or on Facebook, whichever) and stressing over the heavily weighted test you're going to write in the next 96-12 hours, depending on how badly you procrastinate.
Losing your yellow highlighter is overwhelmingly upsetting and even though it may appear to be hopeless around 2:00 a.m., you keep going for at least another hour so you can say you put in some effort.
The most stressful part about exams, personally, is talking to your friends before the exam and they start putting all their knowledge on blast and you don't remember reading any of it anywhere. Then you begin to panic even more, and once you get the exam you can then judge if all the stress and energy drinks were warranted or not.
The only thing less frustrating than not studying enough for an exam, is studying too much. You end up looking back on the experience of all the stressful studying and the only thought you can muster is "I could have been sleeping..."
You missed your favourite TV shows, the big hockey game, your friend's birthday, a changing season, and the potential start of WWIII because of your exams that may or may not be your impending doom.
Although being a dysfunctional wreck is somewhat acceptable during your enrolment, summer break provides the opportunity for students to pretend/try to be normal human beings.
Except you're still stressed from all the tuition and student debt that you owe, and will owe in the future as a new semester approaches. In order to compensate, you get a job (maybe two) and then you work your butt off all summer to pay for the ability to eat crappy food, live in the same sweatpants for weeks at a time, and suffer sleep deprivation all while earning your degree/diploma that "promises" hope for the future when you're no longer employed at a minimum wage job.
They told you all throughout high school that it would be rough, and this is exactly what they meant.
In this stressful time I want to wish everyone luck on their exams and final projects, and I also want to remind you that although your post-secondary institution may be some awkward combination of heaven and hell, you're incredibly fortunate to have the ability to pursue higher education... even though it may not always feel like it.
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