As the semester comes to an end, students and faculty are preparing for finals after a semester marked by back-to-back hurricanes.

Giovanna Pecin is the health and wellness manager for USF’s Student Government (SG) executive branch. She said students will come out stronger after the final weeks.

“If we can survive this semester, we’re definitely going to survive any semester,” said Pecin, a senior biomedical sciences major.

With over a week of classes disrupted by hurricanes, USF decided to make the last two weeks of the semester instructional instead of the usual test-free and finals week. 

The decision, however, has affected students in different ways — with some finding it manageable and others facing added stress juggling coursework and exam preparation. 

Related: USF changed finals week for this fall. Here’s what that means

Pecin said even though she understands USF’s reasons, the changes made the semester more stressful than previous ones. 

“This week was supposed to be test-free,” Pecin said. “Instead, I have two exams, and next week we’re having class and finals. Managing time has been really, really hard.”

Tri Nguyen, an international student from Vietnam, said the changes haven’t caused him any issues.

“As long as they don’t affect my flight schedule, I’m fine with them,” said the freshman business major.

Nguyen said his mental health is “okay” because the workload is manageable and he made time to prepare for finals.

Related: USF students feel burnout after hurricanes: ‘We’re all playing catch up.”

Jennifer Cainas, a professor at the Muma College of Business, postponed her final exam but made “extra” accommodations for some students needing to take it early — including international students with pre-booked flights.

Cainas said she couldn’t cover all class material this semester due to the hurricanes, so she gave students full credit for final assignments.

“With everything that happened, having a project due felt a little unreasonable.” Cainas said. “So I adjusted due dates and gave credit for assignments that they no longer had to submit.”

Related: USF experts say students need mental health support post-Milton

Throughout this week, USF groups have also hosted events to help students de-stress.

Pecin is the organizer for Late Night Breakfast, an event hosted every semester by SG in collaboration with the Marshall Student Center (MSC).

She said the event aims to reduce stress during finals and connect students with peers and wellness-focused organizations, such as the Counseling Center and the Center for Student Well-Being.

This semester’s Late Night Breakfast took place on Tuesday night at the MSC Amphitheater. The event offered breakfast food and activities, such as tote bag painting and clay crafting.

“SG is here to serve the student body,” Pecin said. “We have these events to show that we care and we’re here for them.”

Earlier in the day, the Center for Student Well-Being hosted a “De-Stress for Success” event at the same location. The event featured activities, such as coloring and bracelet-making, to help students relax.

Kameron Talley, health promotion & well-being coordinator at the Center for Student Well-Being, said her team “loves” their work and appreciates seeing students engage in their events.

“Seeing how they’re reacting to the environment, whether it’s relaxing or making a new friend, is really, really wonderful,” Talley said.

She said the Center for Student Well-Being partnered with the MSC this week to provide health and wellness events. 

“It’s a full week of taking care of ourselves,” Talley said. “We prioritize creating a safe and inclusive space for students.”