The end of the spring semester is approaching, meaning summer vacation is right around the corner. This is the time in the semester when students are mentally checking out and fantasizing about the endless freedom and fun that they are about to experience during the summer months.
Unfortunately, there is something that students need to get through before they start their break. The most dreaded time of the academic year is finally here – finals week – and students are preparing for the stress and chaos that is about to ensue. Luckily, LMU offers a variety of student resources that can come in handy during finals week, and hopefully help to ease some of that stress. Everyone needs a little support when it comes to wellness and success in college, so don’t be afraid to get some. Here are five campus resources to check out during finals week for guaranteed success.
1. Academic Resource Center (ARC)
The Academic Resource Center is a campus staple when it comes to academic aid. It offers a wide variety of free academic support services; including in-house advisors, writing tutors, course tutors, and even first-generation student support services.
The ARC is committed to helping students succeed throughout the entire academic year, but finals week is a great time to stop by or schedule an appointment via Zoom to get some extra help. Whether the help you need is with organizing and prioritizing tasks and projects, or studying throughout the week of finals, they are there to assist with that. However, many of the tutors that work at the ARC are also students, so keep in mind that their schedules may be limited during finals week and it is best to make an appointment sooner rather than later.
The best part of the ARC is, arguably, the Decompression Zone. That’s right, they have a space solely dedicated to relaxation. Located in Daum Hall 216, the Decompression Zone boasts low mood lighting, lots of comfortable pillows and furniture, meditation and yoga mats, and most importantly – some peace and quiet. Students are always encouraged to stop in and enjoy this calming space. According to the ARC’s webpage, they also offer some fun crafts and events in which students can indulge, such as “coloring books, puzzles, calming teas, candy/chocolate, bracelet-making embroidery floss, reflection journals, a mindfulness meditation app, and more.”
2. Community of Care
Community of Care is another fantastic spot to visit as we near the start of finals week. At Community of Care, trained professionals from Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and the Department of Public Safety serve to help students with a wide variety of issues they may encounter at school. These representatives can help point students in the right direction for the help they need, regardless of what their issue may be. If you need some help and don’t know where to find it, this is the place to go. We all know that unexpected issues tend to pop up at the worst times, and this very well may be during finals week. If this turns out to be the case for you, don’t let it disrupt your grind, and head down to Malone 301 for some guidance. They are guaranteed to get you, or someone you know, the proper type of help.
3. Disability Support Services (DSS)
Disability Support Services helps students who struggle academically due to disabilities, such as ADHD or Dyslexia. They are committed to giving students who struggle with learning disabilities a fair chance to demonstrate their knowledge and succeed academically, and provide them with the accommodations they require to achieve this. To utilize DSS, you need to already be registered, or you can register for their services as long as you have legal documented proof of your disability. DSS is a great place to go during finals week, because being a student with a disability that limits you academically can lead to an extremely tough and stressful time. DSS can provide students with extra time and assistance when it comes to final papers, projects, or exams, should they need it.
4. William H. Hannon Library
While this may seem like an obvious one, some students tend to stay away from the library during the craze of finals week. However, the library can quite literally be your best friend when it comes to this time of year. Having technological issues with your laptop? Can’t find enough information online for your final research paper? Need some peace and quiet to study but your roommate is blow drying her hair at 11 p.m.? The library can solve all of these problems. Aside from having an enormous supply of informational books and a very useful online database for research, the library also offers an Info Desk, research consultations, and a 24/7 live chat with a librarian feature. Not to mention, this is hands down the quietest place on campus to study and distractions are usually non-existent. There’s just something about being in the library that makes you want to work harder and study faster.
5. Student Psychological Services (SPS)
Student Psychological Services is dedicated to helping students deal with issues surrounding mental health. It’s widely known that finals week can be a very mentally exhausting and challenging time for students, and at times it can be too overwhelming to bear. There is nothing to be ashamed of if that happens, and you should never be afraid to reach out for help. SPS serves as a safe space for students to get free help for their mental health, whether that might come in the form of venting to a therapist or seeking out some comforting advice or words of encouragement. Therapists are available everyday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, and again from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm for students who need rapid assistance and do not have a scheduled appointment. SPS also offers SPS TimelyCare, which is a virtual teletherapy version of SPS that can be used if you do not wish to or are unable to attend an in person visit.
