Finals week is a very stressful time of the year for students. This year, the finals period was really short because we did not have the reading period between the end of classes and the start of finals. During finals some students move-in to the library. Thankfully, the library is functioning on 24/7 basis during the last two weeks of the semester. Although a very stressful time, we manage to have fun.

There is an amazing tradition of “Midnight Breakfast” at Middlebury. Ask a Midd alum about it. This year, Midnight breakfast was sponsored by the Student Government Association. Midnight breakfast is usually from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Students start lining up behind the dining hall doors around 10:30 p.m.—it says a lot about how popular midnight breakfast is among Midd Kids. Dining halls at this time serve the usual breakfast menu and tons of cookies and other snacks. It is a fun break from studying for exams and papers!

For international students, it is yet another time of the year when they realize how much they are loved and cared for by their community. Town friends will make sure that we have our snacks during this time! I always receive emails from my town friends who are concerned about my health, reminding me that I should take short breaks and exercise. They send me—or personally bring to my dorm room—care packages. I always have homemade cookies, banana bread or zucchini bread during finals.