‘Feel Good Finals’ activities help students manage exam stress

*Administrators serve students at the fall 2023 Late Night Breakfast. Photo by Natalie Hoang ’25.*

As classes wrap up for the semester, the Office of Wellness Education is offering students opportunities to de-stress and wind down while getting ready for final exams. “Feel Good Finals,” now in its fourth year, features a range of activities, from therapy dogs and snacks to the traditional Late-Night Breakfast.

“Feel Good Finals lets students take a much-needed study break,” says Leah Hall, director of wellness education. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone.”

Along with the popular therapy dog visit, snacks in the library, and fitness classes, Hall says, the office has added new activities to the schedule, including a sensory decompression space, pancakes with programming assistants, and a Lego-building session.

The highlight of Feel Good Finals is the Late Night Breakfast — where Clark staff and administrators greet and serve students. “This is the first Late Night Breakfast with our new dining vendor, Harvest Table. I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes this year and how this partnership can evolve in the future,” Hall says.

Joseph Kalinowski, vice president of information technology at Clark, has volunteered to serve at Late Night Breakfast for multiple years and will be on hand again this year.

“Serving at the breakfast provides a different way for me to interact with the community, beyond IT,” Kalinowski says. “I get energized and motivated by interacting directly with the hundreds of students that come out for the event. It’s an honor being part of the tradition and helping to provide the fuel and encouragement that can help propel them over the semester’s finish line.”

“I loved Late Night Breakfast as a student, and I love it now,” says Danielle Morgan Acosta, senior associate dean of student success and a 2001 graduate of Clark. “It’s a great break for the students and an opportunity for the community to come together, de-stress, and celebrate the end of the semester.”

The Feel Good Finals schedule is below. Visit The Office of Wellness Education on Instagram for full event descriptions.

Tuesday, December 10

Activity	Where	When
Hatha Yoga	Bickman Multipurpose Room	10 a.m.
Board Games, Puzzles, and Pizza	The Grind	Noon
Letting go with Legos	ASEC 111	1 p.m.
Rock Painting	Grace Conference Room	3 p.m.
Make Your Own Finals First Aid Kit	University Center Tables	4 p.m.
Late Night Breakfast (open to all — no meal plan required)	The Table at Higgins	10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11

Activity	Where	When
Dynamic Yoga	Bickman Multipurpose Room	9 a.m.
Therapy Dogs	Academic Commons	11 a.m.
Cocoa and Conversations with CPG	FYSA Conference Room	12:30 p.m.
Pancakes with Programming Assistants	: McCann Resource Room	3 p.m.
Power Hour Fitness with Wellness Ambassador Lily	Bickman Multipurpose Room	6 p.m.

Thursday, December 12

Activity	Where	When
Zumba	Bickman Multipurpose Room	9 a.m.
The Chill Zone (A Quiet Sensory Decompression Space)	FYSA Conference Room	12:30 p.m.
Inclusive Intro to Strength Training	Bickman Multipurpose Room	6 p.m.

Friday, December 13

Activity	Where	When
Mindfulness and Meditation	Center for Counseling and Personal Growth (Shawn’s office)	1 p.m.
Power Hour Fitness with Wellness Ambassador Lily	Bickman Multipurpose Room	4:30 p.m.
Hatha Yogo	Bickman Multipurpose Room	6 p.m.
Study Snack Break	Goddard Library	3 p.m.

Students are also encouraged to take advantage of ongoing open gym hours at the Bickman Fitness Center.

‘Feel Good Finals’ activities help students manage exam stress

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