The Rituals We Prepare Before An Exam

That 2 a.m. panic when you realized that your reviewer is a hundred pages long and you haven’t even started.

It’s that time of the semester where the sheer amount of review materials is combined with relentless additional activities that make you jokingly question, “Is it finals week or MY final week?” for the lack of sleep you got. But hey, don’t worry because here are the rituals you can do before an exam.

Superstitions

Failing to master the material leads inevitably to mastering the rituals. Why? A study says that students’ stress from crucial exams is serious as they found that 31% admitted to feeling overwhelmed with a lot of stress which often leads to procrastination or superstitions (Misra & McKean, 2000) like the following:

Red Underwear Power-up

​Forget the hours you spent in the library, some say the key in increasing the chances of passing the exam is not seen by the naked eye, it is in you or should I say woven into the fabric of your lucky red underwear? While it is hypothetical, rituals provide control over the uncontrollable things which then leads to increase in confidence and better performance (Brooks et al., 2016). Perhaps this is the “lucky charm.”

Pillow Notes Theory

​This theory is simple: you sleep with your reviewer tucked under your pillow, eventually all the information will seep into your brain and you will remember everything. Science? Absolutely not. Is it an effective ritual? It is, especially when you’re too exhausted, it’s easy to fall asleep while cuddling your notes.

Lucky Pen Syndrome

​Going to a battle without a weapon is a no-no. That is why you should always bring your “lucky” pen in hopes that you will luckily answer the exam. It’s usually low on ink and covered in teeth marks that symbolizes the power it holds.

“Finals Passed Cutie”

​Manifestation is the ultimate power move. Delete those negative study selfies, put up your desired GPA as your wallpaper, be optimistic, and confidently post about how ready you are to ace those finals (even if you’re not). Keep in mind that the goal is to project an aura of success and use the Law of Attraction because you attract what you are. 

Scent Markers

Once the caffeine wears off, your olfactory senses become the last defense to ward off the irresistible sleep you’ve been wanting to. Research has reported the connection between scent and memory, showing that the scent of peppermint can boost cognitive function and improve both memory recall and alertness of a person (Moss et al., 2008).

Stingy Essential Oils

​This exam week calls for a sharp, stinging, minty odor of peppermint or eucalyptus oils. It’s not the time to relax, but to keep your mind active and focused all throughout the night.

The Handy Inhaler

​Your not-so-secret reliable item to fight drowsiness as you pull an all-nighter and one-on-one session with your hundred-page reviewer. Its scent symbolizes your diligence in “burning the midnight oil” and your strong confidence to finish this semester strong. 

Playlists

Your ritual is not complete without ritual music or rather a ritual soundtrack. When study silence becomes deafening, you turn into your music playlist and let the beat drive you to your finish line.

Sparking Determination with a Beat

Review sessions can be dull, so you set the mood by bringing the beat into play. You’ve got the motivational playlists to push you through every hurdle. But sometimes, you have to embrace the 'hopeful delusional' in you, skipping the focus tracks for full-on graduation songs, just to remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place.

Study Spots

A ritual should be done in a sacred place. That is why finding a suitable study space is a mission. Every location can be a casual place to hang out or a study corner. 

The Library Archive

​As exam week approaches, the library is packed. This is a silent jungle where you can hear the collective sound of anxious flipping of pages and clicking ticks of pens. If you want a silent vigil-like environment, it’s the perfect place for you. A silent space for your study ritual.

The Friendship Headquarters

Nothing beats transforming a friend's dorm into a shared war room.  The collective determination, colorful notes, motivational quotes, and coffee boost your determination and confidence.

The Outdoor Sanctuary

The linear park or lagoon transforms into a students' sanctuary. These outdoor spots, where you can feel the breeze and sun, are perfect for easing exam tension as students quietly mumble lessons and review their notes.

The Brewing Spots

When seeking a new vibe, many students choose cafés for their study ritual. They lurk, spending over a hundred pesos on a single drink which often acts as rent for a table. This caffeine-driven, aesthetic studying balances effort with a subtle intellectual display.

Coffee Orders

​One of the most important items to pull while doing your study ritual is the coffee order that gives you life and brews your desperation. This depends on your budget and time. Coffee has become a common necessity. A study revealed that 92% of college students consume caffeine to cope with academic pressure (Mahoney et al., 2019)

Instant Coffee

A quick, cheap, and brutally effective emergency boost. Simple yet powerful, and it gets the job done.

​Lucky Day

​A staple, reliable, and accessible coffee for all students pulling a serious all-nighter.

Spanish Latte

A luxury option for those rigorous review sessions or for giving yourself a tiny, sweet reward for finishing a lesson.

Oatside Coffee

​A tactical preference for those who want caffeine but also allows themselves a subtle pleasure to mark the start of an exhaustive review marathon.

These rituals are not theoretical fantasies because I rely on them myself. Their effectiveness is measured by how well they work to keep my panic at bay.

All in all, the important thing is that we are all in this together.

In the end, these rituals define our shared reality. From the red underwear to the instant coffee, these rituals are just coping mechanisms for a universal truth that says exams really are tough. From sleepless nights to the moment we sit in the classroom and face the exam papers, we rely on these rituals to keep our academic meltdown at bay and give us that confidence to successfully answer each question. In the end, we all share the same struggles as we try to survive a dreadful semester. May we keep this collective energy to fuel our own fight and conquer another semester. Just remember, you got this!

Article: Trisha Sorsano

Graphics: Kent Bicol