Before heading out for spring break, Tritons have one final hurdle to overcome, midterms.

We asked three University of Guam students on how they are feeling during midterms and the ways they manage their stress.

Waynuel Caraig, a Secondary Education Major and English Minor at the University of Guam shares his experience with midterms. 

“I would say the main cause of it is just the sheer amount of things I have to do on top of midterms. With six classes at school plus extra hours at work, it feels like I have so little time to really put as much effort as I would like into studying,” said Caraig.

“Personally, stress feels like an unbearable weight on my chest with a mix of panic,” said Raianne Quichocho, an Integrative Biology major at the University of Guam. “Sometimes it affects my abilities to complete daily tasks because I am so worried about the thing I am stressing about.”

Caraig and Quichocho  agree that attempting to balance their classes while studying for midterms causes them to experience immense amounts of stress, which is why it is important for students to take care of their mental health, especially after these challenging times.

“I really just sit back and enjoy the time I have before the next thing. Whether that be going out with friends, playing video games, skateboarding, or even just sitting down doing nothing. Once I press that last submit button, I just go back to life as normal,” says Caraig.

Though some students get to relax after midterms, others like Alyssa Dela Cruz, a Communications Major at the University of Guam are forced to utilize their time to prepare for the final half of the semester. 

“Ideally I sleep or do things I usually do not have time for, but there are usually things to prepare for the second half of the semester that could take up my time,” said Dela Cruz.

Caraig, Quichocho, and Dela Cruz shared a few insights into how other students can relax and unwind after the end of their midterms.

Quichocho suggests, “To take lots of breaks and make time to do what you love. Even if it’s only a few minutes a day, that short amount of time can really alter your mood. For example, going on a short walk can be a great stress reliever.”

“The best thing someone can do for themselves is just to build a really solid support system. Whether that be friends, family, co-workers, a significant other, etc. Other people can make a huge difference in helping you not go insane when you’re overwhelmed. While you should not rely on everyone else to solve your problems, it is nice to have a little help sometimes,” says Caraig.

Dela Cruz leaves students with an important message, “Make sure you’re making time for things that make you happy. Treat managing your mental health like it is a responsibility because it is.”