As the library begins to fill with students working late into the evening, it becomes clear that the semester is coming to an end and finals are quickly approaching. To support students during this stressful time, SUNY Old Westbury will host a workshop designed to help Panthers manage the pressure that often builds at the end of the term.

“From Stressed to Your Best” will take place Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Multipurpose Room C of the Student Union. The event is being held in collaboration with CSTEP, TRIO SSS, CAPW, EOP and the ACE program to make sure students across campus feel supported.

The workshop will include interactive exercises focused on reducing stress, along with guidance and advice from senior counselor Tatiana McLean. Students can expect to find support not only from campus professionals, but also from fellow Panthers who are experiencing the same pressures as finals approach.

The goal of the event is to provide students with helpful tools and strategies to protect their mental health as academic pressure increases.

It also aims to remind students that it is okay to struggle, and that they are not alone during one of the most demanding times of the semester.

National research supports the reality many students are facing. A 2025 Healthy Minds Study conducted by the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health found that anxiety and depression remain common among college students across the country, even as some improvements have been reported in recent years .

Another peer-reviewed study published by the National Institutes of Health found that students experience significantly higher stress levels during exam periods, which can negatively impact sleep, performance and overall well-being .

Student voices on campus reflect that national trend.

“Everyone wants to give you like homework last minute,” said Stephanie Velez, a biology major with a minor in neuropsychology and a member of CSTEP. “And like, it’s just all due at the same time. You have to just like plan it out on like a little like agenda type of thing or like a calendar. Just like set out when to do what, like prioritize stuff that’s coming up sooner.”

Velez said events like this matter because “it’s an important event to show that you’re not alone and that you’re able to like overcome any obstacles that you face no matter how stressed you are. And that there is a support group for you, not by yourself.”

Faculty members also recognize how stress affects student performance.

“I think the perception piece is key here like the perceived demands of finals like feeling like it’s high stakes and also coupled with the sleep,” said Jill Farber, a physiology professor who teaches applied psychology at SUNY Old Westbury. “Because a lot of students sleep a lot less during finals time or they are so stressed that they’re like losing sleep, and sleep quality really impacts your ability to perform on exams.”

Farber said that learning coping skills can make a meaningful difference.

“I think they’re super valuable because, like learning to cope with stress and manage stress, like stress is all about perception,” she said.

She said that students are often balancing intense responsibilities.

“Trying to balance school, extracurriculars, pre-professional experiences, exams, writing demands, and then also like family and friends and social things,” she said. “So there’s just a lot to juggle during such a formative time in your life.”

TRIO Director Olivia Hughes said helping plan events like these is important because midterms and finals are probably the most stressful exams students take.

“We do have something in our office called Trio Talks where students can come and just have conversation with one another,” she said.

Campus initiatives like “From Stressed to Your Best” aim to give students practical tools and community-based support to help them finish the semester in a healthier way, Hughes said, and that mental health should remain a priority.

“I hope that students understand that, as important as their academics are, their mental health is just as important,” she said.

“From Stressed To Your Best,” hosted by TRIO Student Services at SUNY Old Westbury. 1:30 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 3 in Multipurpose Room C of the Student Union. Free admission.