By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Final exams are often one of the most trying times of the entire semester, and it can be difficult to push through.

With just two days of final exams left, we asked students how they stay motivated through the home stretch.

Zachary McCauley, junior, Mechanical Engineering, from Clarion, Pa.: “You just have to push through it. I’ve also set a nice reward for myself. I’ll be making a trip to Texas after finals.”

Kati Piger, first-year student, undecided, from Williamsport, Pa.: “Track helps keep me motivated because I have to maintain my GPA, and I’m also motivated by thinking about my future.”

Hayley McMillen, junior, Creative Writing, from Erie: “I just know that the hard work will pay off. My mother is also a big motivator for me.”

Veronica Lorya, senior, International Business and Marketing, from Erie: “I listen to a lot of music; I’m a huge Beyoncé fan. I also do a lot of meditation and remind myself that I’ll be graduating on Friday.”

Zack Neudorfer, first-year student, Electrical Engineering, from Butler, Pa.: “It’s the light at the end of the tunnel, and I know it’s important to achieve good grades.”

Jeremy Smida, first-year student, Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, from Monongahela, Pa.: “I remind myself that it will all pay off once I graduate and get a good job.”

Jacob DeWeese, first-year student, Energy Engineering, from Freedom, Pa.: “I have a 4.0 GPA right now, and I want to keep that, so that’s how I’m motivating myself to stay at it.”

Haley Iacullo, sophomore, Marketing, from Pittsburgh: “Lots and lots of coffee. Also, I know that I have good grades already, so I don’t want to screw that up.”

Tracy Abraham, sophomore, Biology, from Washington, D.C.: “I know I need to work hard because I don’t want to regret it. I also remind myself that finals are just temporary.”

Josh Podpora, first-year student, Mechanical Engineering, from Erie: “My internship at GE depends on me doing well in school, so I use that for motivation.”

Behrend Reacts is a regular Thursday feature at the Behrend Blog that tries to get the campus pulse on a current topic, whether it’s serious or trivial. If you have a question to suggest for Behrend Reacts, please email Steve Orbanek at sco10@psu.edu.

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