The semester is almost history. What a relief.

Yet so many students around campus seem more stressed out and anxious than ever, as if the hard part is still to come.

Really, it’s not. Sure, we’ve got finals. But we’ve been preparing for them all semester by going to class, listening to lectures, doing homework and making presentations.

Congratulations. The hard part is over.

Here are a few ways to look at the end of the semester that don’t involve outright dread.

For example: gratitude. Be thankful for what you have learned so far this semester, for those who taught you, for the classmates you’ve become friends with and that it’s almost over.

Or pride. How proud are you of what you have accomplished this semester: good grades—or at least passing grades? Your leadership role with a campus club? An especially meaningful paper or presentation that you aced because you were so into the topic?

How about knowledge? What do you know now that you didn’t know on the first day of school in August? How to calculate the circumference of a circle? To expertly populate an Excel file?

Everything and anything that you learned in statistics?

Optimism. What’s next for you? And how has what you’ve learned and done this semester helped you get there? Are you ready to transfer to a four-year or to get a job? Are you excited about that?
Accomplishment.

If you set out to finish a certain number of courses, or ace one of them, or gather enough credits to graduate early—did you? Way to go.

Community. New friends who propped you up; parents who listened to you whine about all the hard work college requires; teachers who you know will give you a good recommendation when you need one; counselors who helped you keep—or get—your head on straight when it wasn’t: You wouldn’t have had the experiences with them that you will always remember if it hadn’t been for this awesome semester.

A fresh start. The end of the year means the beginning of another one is right around the corner. The new year is always an opportunity to make changes and improvements; to leave the past behind if you want to; and to try new things. You can even make yourself over into a new you if you want to.

Add your own. What else will you remember fondly about this semester once it’s over?

Then, look ahead. The break is a time to relax, spend time with friends, reconnect with the family. You don’t always have enough time when you have homework to do.