Halloween is over, so without further ado, it is time to begin a crucial part of the fall semester: that last, headlong sprint toward finals week. It is important to throw even more effort into every course as we reach this point.

This is a hectic time where every student has a presentation due, a 10-page paper that needs writing and what feels like an exam every day of the week. Every day brings a mountain of new notes to absorb.

For those who work, the urgency of this period of time is compounded by devising new ways to balance work and school lives.

Now, more than ever, students find themselves staying up later and arriving on campus earlier—anything to get those last few minutes with their study guides before the exam. Walking into class tired is pretty much the norm in November.

But there’s a silver lining to it all–I promise. As students move further along in their education, or move on to the workplace, the tasks to keep track of only grow larger.

It’s intimidating, but they’ve actually already prepared themselves for this increased responsibility.

Late fall can kickstart a reserved motivation hidden deep within, the part that becomes wildly creative to stay ahead of even the toughest exam. Showing up to campus early, leaving late, all of that is just a part of this forthright desire to make it out in one piece.

Students surround themselves with classmates and hold study groups. There’s nothing like a meeting of minds to cut down any anxiety before a major assignment.

It’s all a part of continued growth as members of society. As students make that last, empowered sprint toward finals, remember that the effort put in to meeting deadlines today is something that will come easily years down the line.