As the semester draws to a close, students often find themselves scrambling to pass their classes and meet every deadline they can. It is officially finals season, where students around the country clock long hours of studying and turning in late work.

Finals in college run a little differently than how they do in high school. College students are more often put into a position where their exams can make or break their grade.

Exams at the end of the semester are seen as a necessary evil for the greater good of the students. Beneath the surface of this part of the semester lies the mental toll it puts on students around the world.

Arifa Aminzi, a sophomore political science major at Mt. SAC, discussed how she feels during finals season.

“I’m worried for some of my classes,” Aminzi said. “It’s scary but it is what it is, so I’m preparing in any way I can.”

In a study run by the American Psychological Association, nearly one-third of all students report feeling overwhelmed, stressed and overworked during this time of year. Stress can affect people in many different ways including sleep deprivation, poor eating habits and depressive episodes.

Javier Bustamante, an audio arts major, talked about how getting his assignments done and getting ready for finals can be challenging.

“It’s been stressing me out a little bit but thankfully I’ve been able to maintain the work,” Bustamante said. “ But I’m just barely even getting it done and it kind of sucks.”

Everyone knows that finals are extremely stressful to the point of downright breakdowns from students just trying to pass their classes. The stress at this time of year is rarely addressed as an issue to resolve, since finals are required in most if not all college courses.

Many colleges are recognizing the need for mental health support and are implementing measures to alleviate stress. These include stress-relief workshops and time management courses.

Dr. Jane Smith, a psychologist who specializes in stress induced by education, pushes for a more holistic approach to studying. Noting that seemingly unrelated actions can improve your mental health and furthermore increase classroom performance.

“It’s not just about studying harder, but smarter,” Smith said. “This includes taking care of your mental health, getting enough sleep and maintaining a balanced diet.”

Mt. SAC offers workshops that may aid students during exams. Time management courses as well as general help with work are available and other workshops are available all around campus.

Finals are difficult for everyone and it’s very important to understand that no one is alone. Millions of students are suffering from the same amount of stress currently and there are countless resources that could be utilized for the betterment of any given student’s mental health.