‘Twas the Week Before Finals

I originally posted these verses to social media as a lighthearted way of keeping in touch with my Christian community at home, knowing the difference their prayer support made in my life. Now, several years later, I’m sharing the stanzas again—this time, as a call for the wider Body of Christ to rally around the next generation of Christian young people.

Enjoy!

‘Twas the week before finals; the big ones were coming.
Away on the table, my laptop was humming—
It had been for hours—my fingers kept hopping;
For ages, they typed a report without stopping.

“But wait,” I lean back, “I have finals to study,
Like Spanish and physics—I’ve got to get ready!
And ecology, cell bio, so much to do,
And psychology—wait, but I’ve got to sleep too.”

Oh, look at the time! It’s no wonder I’m tired.
I turn out the lights, but my brain is too wired.
To promote neurogenesis, I’ve got to sleep.
So, I’ll try that old standby, the counting of sheep.

If I count them in Spanish, that’s studying too,
Killing two birds at once. Yes, then that’s what I’ll do.
But wait, what’s the word in that language for “sheep?”
I know how to say “pig,” though—I’ll count those to sleep.
“Uno cerdo, dos cerdos…,” I count pigs instead,
Until visions of physics tests dance in my head.
(Have you ever dreamed physics? It’s painful, it’s true.
In the morning, you wake, and your head feels like glue.)

Yes, the finals are coming. We students need prayer
From nice people like you guys who show us you care.
Then in two weeks it’s OVER, and I’m out of here,
Going home and not thinking about physics next year.

Practical Articles for Supporting Students

• 11 Simple, Practical Ways to Support Christian Students
• 28 Scriptures to Encourage Christian Students
• Open Letter to Christian Students Starting Secular University
• Top 9 Tips for Christian Students Entering Secular University
• What it Takes to Be a Mentor: A Conversation in Holland
• Surviving Secular University as a Christian Student
• Tools for Critical Thinking

For more practical tips and encouragement for Christian students (and the mentors who support them), stay tuned for the book, Prepare to Thrive: A Survival Guide for Christian Students, available for pre-order.