Open Letter to My Only Final

Dearest Final,

Hi, how are ya? I’ve been fine, my stress levels have taken a nice decline in the past week. To start off, I would love to thank you for being you. I know, weird right? I think the time I’ve been able to take away from the others (not as cool as you, I promise) has shown me how truly appreciative I am of you. Because of you, I feel as if I can keep up with the ‘staying up all night for my finals’ speak where people are running themselves on low just to pass a class, scouring over their textbooks, and cramming up to the last second. I don’t have that problem with you, Final.

Before taking you, I already have an A in your class.

I’m sorry if you’re feeling lonely, but I really don’t mind it. Well, when two of your friends became projects and the other a paper (shocker, we know), your other exam companions began to dwindle—and so did my finals week. Oh Final, what am I going to do on Tuesday once I’m doing filling in the dots and bubbles? Without you to devote my time to, other courses to study for or even textbooks to read, I’ll be an unproductive mess, searching for something fulfilling to do.

All weekend, instead of dreadfully pouring over my textbooks, highlighters and 5-hour energies, I can appreciate the time we’ve had together. Maybe even see some friends I haven’t seen since the winter. As I sit there and hear my friends tell me of all the sleep they’ve lost or coffee they’ve downed, please know I’m thinking of you. I’ll listen to them and nod along, but they don’t know the type of relationship we have. One filled with 8-hour sleep cycles, Netflix binging or even extra credit work. That’s why your presence is so great to me—it gives me the things I’ve been needing all semester but not having the time or mental capacity to comprehend.

Though it’ll be weird to only scour over one or two Quizlets this finals season, I’m glad I can do it with you. You, with your easy verbs, simple conjugations and memorization. No formulas and I would ever stand a chance. Believe me, I’ve tried. Instead of hours and hours of my free weekend booked for you, I’ll commit maybe a couple and feel more than prepared. Isn’t that great? I may even buy myself some ice cream as a reward.

I can’t believe you even considered when I wanted to wake up in the morning.

How did you just know? You remembered my troubles with an 8 a.m. last year, huh? With your thoughtfulness, I don’t need to get up at an ungodly hour in the morning or stay up to the wee hours of the night just to walk into a lecture hall.

12:30 p.m. is much better, so thank you very much, Final. I could even review in the morning for some last–second cramming. Oh, the time that I will have to slowly waste away and wait for the bus. Imagine that. 

As my other peers scour around their week in a tornado storm of due dates, I don’t know how I’ll spend my minutes, Final. I don’t think I’ll want to rush through it, though. Maybe I don’t want to give up your freedom, flexibility and friendship quite yet. Could you blame me? Oh, and thank you so much for everything you’ve done for my mental health. With all my free time, I was able to fully relax and take in the year I’ve had. Oh, and has it been a year. It’s been a wonder we’ve made it through so effortlessly. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you. Don’t tell the others, but you may be my favorite yet.