Whether it seems like it or not, the second trimester is quickly drawing to a close. Students and teachers all over East Noble High School have one main thing on their minds: finals. Whether it’s taking them, grading them, or having mental breakdowns whenever thinking about them, we all have to deal with the finals, which can be tricky little devils. Here are some things that students should and shouldn’t do in preparation for these tests.

DO: Savor the last few days at your lunch table.

Enjoy the company of your friends for these last few days. Not to be negative or anything, but you might never sit with them at lunch again, especially if you’re a senior.

DON’T: Skip out on lunch.

Studying for your fourth period final at the last minute probably won’t improve your scores much, and you definitely don’t want your stomach to be growling throughout the next period since your classroom will probably be silent.

DO: Go to sleep early each night.

Energy tends to help people think better, so get as much of it as you can by sleeping as much as possible each night.

DON’T: Stay up until four in the morning the night before finals complaining on social media about how East Noble should close the next day.

This could result in a dramatic loss of followers because everyone knows that a wind-chill of -10 degrees won’t get the job done.

DO: Study.

While this is pretty self-explanatory, it just might be the most important thing to do on this list.

DON’T: Stay up until four in the morning cramming information that you probably won’t remember.

Avoid this by finding study time earlier in the day so you can use your nights to sleep.

DO: Pay attention to your review activities in class.

Believe it or not, the teachers actually make you do the reviews for a reason. I wonder what this reason could be?

DON’T: Goof off and not take the reviews seriously.

Once again, the teachers put these reviews together for you, and they’re the ones who make the finals, so it’s probably wise to pay attention to the reviews.

DO: Give yourself something to look forward to.

Raise your spirits by planning something fun to do on Friday after finals. Have friends over, go to Fort Wayne to shop, see a movie at the Strand, or have a video game marathon when you get home. You’re about to take several finals, so reward yourself; you deserve it!

DON’T: Crouch into the fetal position and sob pathetically to yourself every time you hear the word “final.”

Because, seriously, who does that?

DO: Be optimistic!

You just have to believe in yourself and success is yours!

DON’T: Be too optimistic!

Don’t believe in yourself too much or you’ll think it’s safe to not study for the finals, which is a dangerous move.

DO: Extra credit!

Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a magic spell that could improve your class performance by one letter grade? Wait—that’s just extra credit.

DON’T: Laugh at those who do the extra credit and call them nerds only to turn around and complain about how your grade is worse than theirs.

What goes around comes around, right?

DO: Be a little early to school the days of your finals.

It’s better to be safe than sorry, and this is especially true on the days of finals.

DON’T: Be late to a final.

Of all the days of the year to be late to class, please don’t choose this Thursday and Friday.

DO: Talk to your teachers or classmates if you are struggling with something.

Confusion is like a virus; if you don’t understand something in class, you could confuse yourself more and find it harder to deal with relating topics. Confusion spreads, so kill it by simply asking for help.

DON’T: Just shake it off and hope you don’t see it on the final.

Chances are, it will be on there.

DO: Keep yourself from stressing too much about the tests.

They’re just tests…super important potential make-you-or-break-you tests….

DON’T: Stress yourself out over the test.

It’s just an accumulation of what you’ve learned, so It’s okay to not remember everything.

DO: Eat a healthy breakfast before you come to school.

Once again, this might sound cliché, but some food in the morning can really boost your happiness and your alertness throughout the day. You also don’t want to be the kid whose stomach growls loudly in the middle of final in an awkwardly silent classroom.

DON’T: Turn into a cannibal and eat your teachers thinking it will get you out of the finals.

Chances are the finals are already made and ready to go even if a sub has to come in for them. Plus, they would find it highly unpleasant.

DO: Make sure you have everything you may need: pencil, laptop, charger, coffee, baby tiger, pens, books, and maybe a mini refrigerator.

Just don’t go all-out and bring a full-size refrigerator to school. That’s just ridiculous.

DON’T: Let the baby tiger get loose.

That could cause problems. Studies have shown that nine out of ten school administrators prefer to keep their schools free of wild carnivorous felines.

Most importantly, just do your best. It’ll all be over soon.