It’s hard to believe, but finals week is approaching quickly and the fall semester will soon be coming to a close. It’s good to keep in mind that the week of finals, and the few weeks leading up to it, can be an extremely stressful time for students. We know many of you are far away but still want to support your students to finish off strong. Here are some pointers to keep in mind:

• Remind them to try to stick to a schedule as much as possible. Sleeping, eating and exercise are just as important, if not more important, in the final weeks of the semester.
• Encourage them to plan their ‘study time’ ahead of time. By developing a schedule for when they will complete their work, they won’t cram everything into the final few days and create too much stress for themselves.
• Be supportive; send them random messages telling them you know they can do this.
• Lower your expectations about communication. Your student will need to use a lot of their time to get work done over the next few weeks. Make sure it’s a good time to call/talk before you do so.
• Encourage them to use available F&M resources: tutoring, counseling services and academic support services are all here to help them finish strong. The fitness center is also open if/when they want to let off some steam!

Remember: The last few weeks of the semester leading up to the holidays can be extremely stressful, but this will hopefully be followed by some “downtime” during the winter break. Help them see they will get there, but hard work will be required first!

Academic Support Services

A constellation of tutoring and academic support services are available at F&M. Encourage your student to access to the support they need to finish the semester strong.

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