It seems hard to believe, but we’re already approaching the end of spring semester. While the yearning dreams of summer may already be fresh in our minds, it’s time once again for the annual onslaught of exams and final projects.
I’ve previously written on the dangers of excessively stressing over exams — that one’s confidence in having learned the material should be considered superior to the grade. However, I will also make a point that because the final is generally the greatest opportunity to demonstrate said confidence, it should always be approached with some measure of gravity.
Unfortunately, many students — myself included — often approach finals with the belief that because they are meant to test our abilities, we should strive to approach them on our own merit, without any help. We sometimes assume that needing help implies weakness, or somehow speaks against our character.
We should be ready to accept, though, that there are countless resources — whether it be study groups, the Tutoring Center, the Writing Center, our own professors and so on — that are meant to help us.
These resources do not necessarily signify that those who use them are weak, but they instead seek to bring out their strengths. As a consultant for Elon’s Writing Center, I can personally attest that we as a resource try not to talk down to those we are trying to help, but rather try to help them find the answers on their terms.
It takes a certain type of willpower to ask for help, a will that comes more naturally to some than others. No matter what type of student you are, though, there’s no question that finals are important, and as such, the acceptance of resources can only help to improve one’s results.
Consider both the resources you use now, and those you may be neglecting or dismissing. After all, the skills to seek and accept help are not meant to be relegated simply to finals, or classwork in general — these skills can be applied in practically all manners of life.