Listen Here
By Annaliese Rizzo, RizzoA1@Findlay.edu
UF Campus Ministry’s annual finals week movie marathon is coming soon to CBSL 136 from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5; it offers a unique opportunity to relax and recharge during the chaos with food and a movie.
Students across the UF campus shared that finals week causes exhaustion and stress. Trying to cram information before final exams can leave them burned out, stressed and not giving their brains enough time to process.
Campus Ministry bible studies sponsor movie nights during finals week to serve those students on campus who are running full tilt with little down time. This opportunity offers a calm space to watch movies and enjoy food, which is provided throughout the movie.
UF alumni Ashley Allen works as a Campus Ministry intern and shared that finals week can leave students with little downtime.
“So, why not offer an opportunity to be together in community and watch a movie together?” Allen said. “It helps people’s mental health and we always offer food for those students who may not eat in favor of more studying or more sleep.”
It can be tough to balance school life with physical needs, but even with grades on the line, it’s important to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits. Sleep improves memory retention and recall by between 20 and 40 percent, according to a research article done at Perelman School of Medicine through the University of Pennsylvania.
On the other hand, there are students who don’t have finals during the last week and seek out community during their newfound downtime. Senior Samantha Adkins shared that her days are quiet, so she seeks things to do at the end of the day.
“For me personally, [the movies] provide a time to see people and to connect with my friends that have been tucked away all day,” Adkins said. “It gives me something to do through finals week because with residence life I have to be here until the end of the week.”
Campus Ministry provides events throughout the year for students on campus to connect with those outside of their own circle.
The movies being shown are Far from the Madding Crowd (5 p.m.) and Flicka (7 p.m.) on Dec. 3; Tale of Despereaux (5 p.m.), Prince of Egypt (6:30 p.m.) and Creed II (8 p.m.) on Dec. 4; and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (5 p.m.) and Sandlot (8 p.m.) on Dec. 5 All movies take place in CBSL 136 and open to all students.
