As a quarter full of stressful exams, adventurous study techniques and nerve-racking presentations come to an end, all of Creighton’s campus is ready to throw on their favorite pair of comfy sweats and relax endlessly. October plans, one’s Netflix queue and that delicious pumpkin spice latte are waiting for Oct. 16th to hit.

I wish I could claim that my nights in the library with my organic chemistry book are just as exciting as they were back in August. I wish I could walk around with a smile on my face telling myself I’m a stress-free soul.

No matter how many times I close my eyes and cross my fingers, the inevitable is approaching: midterm week.

To many of us, flashbacks of our previous midterm weeks are cringe-evoking. Sleepless nights, endless information and amounts of coffee and energy drinks running through our veins are moments we never want to return to. However, we find ourselves entering this unfathomable cycle year after year.

I’d like to say this year would be different – that midterms truly aren’t that bad, that the week will be light and breezy and, if you try your best and get eight hours of sleep every night, you’ll find yourself dominating each and every one of your midterms.

I’m not here to sugarcoat the process – as I too am a bitter student who wants to hold onto every ounce of sleep she may be able to grip to. I am here to remind us of what persisting through this week means.

It’s easy to forget our goals when thrown into stressful situations. We begin to focus on that perfect letter grade and not the long-term meaning of doing well. In reality, if you truly want to do well, it means being able to pursue your ambitions, passions and goals. Every sleepless night and every facet of information you learned is carving you into a human being who is able to reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Isn’t that what college is about – pushing your passions to the extreme so you achieve your goal plus more? Discovering what you are capable of?

That being said, stay committed to your goals, push yourself to the limit and remember the tough grind that we all persist through during midterm week is only creating a product we can be proud of. Although the frenzy of this week – and midterms – has taken a toll on all of us, it is clear that each and every one of us has grown and will continue to grow from these experiences.

So grab that textbook and your cup of coffee, and find yourself a comfy spot in the library. These next two weeks are pushing you one step further to the brilliant person reaching toward their goal.