Well, spring quarter is slowly making its way to midterms. As I have been working on passing my midterms, signing up for Summer 2026 classes, and studying for finals, I know all of DePaul’s students have been too. I know that, as a quarter is coming to a close, I tend to find it harder to make contact with my family, friends, or even my lab partners in my BIO 192 class. When the end of a quarter is in sight, it’s very easy to just try to „lock in” and, in doing so, „block out” everything else. Professors and parents don’t aid with this feeling of needing to block everything else out. It is wise to pay attention and put in lots of effort when exams are around the corner. But, when everyone is telling you to focus on school and nothing else, it is hard to remember that there is anything else that exists. A vast cosmos of the universe exists and holds endless possibilities. And all I can seem to think about, out of everything that exists and doesn’t exist, is my biology exam. For this reason, when preparing for my exam, I want to implement self-care into my study routine. In my attempt to do so, I decided to plan and have a sleepover with one of my best friends after my biology exam. Out of all of the hurdles I have faced so far in college, my first “STEM” classes have been the most anticipated. Science is already so complex and now, I am pursuing higher education in an already complicated field of study. However, I passed this specific exam (yay)! We went all out. I did, in fact, study for another exam I had coming, but I also remembered to enjoy the other non-academic aspects of my life. My friend and I started a new TV show, after finishing an old one, and talked into the night about nothing related to college. For that one night after my exam, university seemed like a distant part of my past that I already conquered. I do have many more exams to pass in my college career, but I will keep making plans with my friends after exams and various other obstacles. That way, I’ll always be reminded that there is more on the other side than my test scores.
About the Author
My name is Emma Lorens and I am currently a freshman at DePaul getting my major in psychology. I am aiming to be become a psychiatrist. The topic of this series, coping mechanisms, are important to be because they allow people to overcome difficulties that are inevitable in life.
Read more on the Honors Blog.
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