Finals are great. No, I am not on crack and no they have not gotten to me – yet.

When else, but during finals, does the average Guilford College student (or any college student for that matter) bond with their fellow students over the fact that they have not slept in 43 hours and are on the verge of being legally insane?

When else, but during finals, do students take care of each other with such love and understanding?

When else can you find that other group of students you barely know in Bauman at 4:38 in the morning and encourage them to go run circles on the lawn outside from the pure ridiculousness that is finals?

And thus, I maintain that finals are great.

Final really are a time for togetherness. There is a sense of unity on campus that no one can deny.

It is already starting too. I know that as I write this article, that I won’t sleep until 3:30 or 4:00 tonight (this morning?) as it is already 12:46 a.m. and I haven’t even begun to dive into my research paper on gay marriage (sorry, Kyle).

And the beautiful thing is, I’m not alone.

All over campus for the next two weeks you will see people who have not bathed in days and though one’s typical response may be to keep a fair distance (unless you live in the Pines) you will witness these people being pulled into much needed hugs, because finals are something we can all understand.

There is an unbridled kindness that comes out during finals that, while very much a part of the daily Guilford experience, overwhelms the community.

While abroad last semester I missed out on one of my favorite times of the year, because classes were not as difficult or stressful. The stress came from saying goodbye to such a fabulous city, but there were no 15 page papers in sight, let alone in addition to the other classes, exams, and life in general that inevitably piles up.

Too often in life we let the little things get us. We get distracted by what we need to do, but for some reason at the most crucial time of the semester there is a sense that we have done all we can and whether an assignment is ‘done’ or not, it is due.

In the process of finals we are also wrapping up. The leaving and needed closure of the year tends to be replaced by the frantic lifestyles we lead at the end of the year. Luckily, at least at Guilford, there is a unity that forms throughout the stress and people do reach out when a hand is needed.

I remember my first year being confused that everything just simply ended. All of a sudden the numbers of students on campus dwindled and that was it.

Back home and away from Guilford.

This year there is a lot of effort to easing that process back to the real world, especially for seniors. As I understand there are plans underway for a senior party in the final day or two before graduation. As an RA, this may sound contradictory, but I believe in the power of parties. I highly encourage this year’s graduating class to attend.

I also highly advise that the underclassmen take a moment to let those seniors who have significantly shaped your experience at Guilford know that they have. It is bizarre when they are suddenly not here anymore.

Finally, I recommend that everyone gets excited for the coming year, because I know it will be fabulous. With the proposals for both a Rock Wall and a Nine Hole Disc Golf Course recently being passed by Community Senate, coming back to Guilford will mean changes, as they always do, but now due in part to student-initiated efforts.

So as we dive into these next couple of hectic weeks, turn to that kid sitting next to you in the library and do something silly to get both of your energies up for those late night paper writing sessions. It will do you both a lot of good.

Perhaps even now you think I’m crazy for saying it, but I insist that there is beauty in finals and it is about to bloom.