From Books to Relaxation: How CSI Students Reset After Finals
Finally Time to Unwind
By: Luke Montalvo
For CSI students, finals week will conclude with a transition into winter break, as they begin to shift their focus toward rest, preparation, and other activities.
CSI students across more than 50 majors will be completing their finals through a combination of written exams, presentations, and other projects. Despite this period being relatively short, students may face pressures relating to studying, heavy workloads, and managing deadlines.
This semester, Nazar Dydych is taking classes such as General Biology and Calculus I while pursuing a career in medical laboratory science.
“I have spent a lot of time juggling studying for all of my classes, biology and math lab for example, because you really need to do well on your finals to pass,” said Nazar Dydych, a CSI freshman. “Once finals are over, I want to focus on new hobbies that are not related to any of my classes.”
Dydych said he plans to learn how to draw, leisurely read, and catch up on television shows and movies he was unable to watch during the fall semester. He indicated that these activities would allow him to focus more on his personal life rather than academics.
Three of Dydych’s finals are scheduled on the same day, underscoring the high-pressure stakes he described. He added that he may stay up later than usual to study during finals week, so he wants to recover by catching up on sleep during winter break.
Last year, Anthony Dibs had begun using Quizlet to study for his final exams, citing it as another stress reducer while studying.
Southern New Hampshire University suggests that college students should get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, so that they can properly function. However, academic pressures and intense scheduling often decrease students’ abilities to reach that recommendation.
A further survey conducted by the National Library of Medicine concluded that nearly 98 percent of college students experience poor sleep quality during exam periods, as compared to 59 percent throughout the rest of the semester.
Once all finals are completed, students will begin identifying additional pastimes they want to pursue during winter break, which would be based on their interests and increased availability.
Anthony Dibs, a CSI junior double-majoring in accounting and business with a concentration in finance, says he plans to study for hours prior to finals.
Even though roughly 119 million people traveled during the holiday season in 2024 and that number is projected to escalate this year, some CSI students have other plans. Michael Motov, a junior majoring in accounting, intends to stay in Staten Island in order to unwind after the final exam period.
“I am going to spend a lot of my free time doing comfort activities while staying local,” said Motov. “I would like to shift the focus away from finals, and instead just watch TV shows and listen to podcasts.”
Anthony Dibs, who is also a CSI junior, agrees with Motov, highlighting he does not have any plans to travel. Instead, he is looking forward to spending time indoors with family and friends during the holiday season.
Another way Motov and Dibs both plan to spend their free time after finals is by playing video games, such as NHL 26 and NBA 2K26.
Once winter break begins, Nazar Dydych intends to read for thirty minutes each night and focus on developing a new hobby.
According to the Entertainment Software Association, around 80 percent of people who play video games reported that they serve as a way to relieve stress.
“Video games help me unwind and deal with stress because they keep my mind off things, including all of my exam results and any projects due,” said Dibs. “Whether it is playing with my friends or by myself, gaming keeps me occupied, less overwhelmed, and content.”
While the days after finals will consist of plenty of relaxation time for Motov, he is still focused on what comes next.
After taking some time to reset, Motov mentioned that he wants to visit the CSI campus over the break. He said he expects to meet with his advisor and go to the career center, so he can gain insights on the upcoming semester, as well as exploring career paths.
“As soon as finals and the semester are officially over, I plan to set my goals and prepare ahead for the spring,” said Motov. “I hope to continue putting in the effort next semester to ensure maximum success.”
