From the outside looking in, a college student during finals week looks like an unpredictable, potentially ill, nut-job. At one point they DGAF then suddenly some switch flips and they begin crying hysterically. But the college student community has a mutual understanding: no judgments. We’ve all been there. Let this playlist cover all the feels of finals week.
1. Get Pumped Up: “Ni**as in Paris”
The daunting task of even beginning to study for finals may discourage you from trying, so play this Jay-Z and Kanye duet to before embarking on the week. You might as well get hyped before the hell begins.
2. Getting in the Study Groove: “Don’t Stop Me Now”
Once you’re deeply embedded in your studies, Freddie Mercury will push you to go that extra hour…or six. Play it as long as you need I guess. As for the lyric, “Cause I’m having such a good time/I’m having a ball,” well, we can just pretend.
3. Acing It: “Started from the Bottom”
When you magically breeze through a final (or maybe struggle through and then let the curve help a friend out) channel your inner Drake to celebrate. At 2 a.m. last night you held literally no hope, but look at you now, you dazzling miracle-worker. Plus, it’s all over with now so who cares at this point.
4. Studying Alone: “Dancing on My Own”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZlKY_M4qhA
Although you’re not dancing, the vibe of this song perfectly balances serenity and isolation, a combination useful for hours with just you and a textbook. Paxton Ingram’s rendition from The Voice will soothe you into a relaxed study mode that keeps you from resisting the urge to Netflix binge for hours on end.
5. Taking a Quick Break: “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody”
Some of us make the bold move to go out instead of studying. Hey, no judgment. If you do, take a breather with this tune. Once you’ve made the decision, might as well enjoy yourself. One night out won’t kill your GPA…right?
6. The Mid-Week Panic Attack: “Welcome to My Life”
When you just feel like throwing your laptop out a window, stop yourself because that would be dumb…then play this tune from your treacherous teenage years. Overreacting is the trademark of teen angst, so feel free to let it all out with this one. Simple Plan probably read a college student’s mind when they sang the lyric, “On the edge of breaking down, and no one’s there to save you.” Let’s be real, that’s you in a nutshell by mid-week.
7. Starting that Final Paper: “Unwritten”
Some majors write papers for a majority of their finals, which means a lot of blank Word Documents blinding you with their pale, white brightness. What better way to channel some writing mojo than jam to Natasha Bedingfield’s early 2000s hit? Writing an essay might not have inspired the song, but the positive vibe can’t hurt.
8. The All-Nighter: “Closing Time”
Zero out of 10, I don’t recommend pulling an all-nighter. But should you embark on one, as the majority of sane people leave the library and leave you alone with you and your notes, let this song set the mood. Oh, and you should probably get some more coffee.
9. Failing: “Let it Go”
Maybe you fail a final—or two. As much as that sucks, you can’t let it stop you from pushing through the rest of the week. The cold could be a metaphor for failing, in which case if it doesn’t bother Elsa, it shouldn’t bother you. I mean if Disney says to let it go, who are we to disagree?
10. “The Final Countdown”
Haha, get it…“final”? I would hold off on this one until you’re near the end of your finals week, but once playing this when you know your close to the finish line could bring back a little bit of that motivation from nine songs ago.
