College students across the valley buckle down this next week as they embark on a new set of finals which are sure to cause much stress this holiday season.

Utah Valley University starts its fall semester finals next Monday, which marks the first of the newly appointed university and many students are finding it hard to handle the stress of classes let alone the failing economy and the Christmas season. 24 year old Ashley Oldson a full-time student from Draper, Utah said "I just try to keep it all in perspective and just hope for the best and maybe a little sympathy from my teachers." Ashley works two jobs as well as maintaining a full schedule at school.

Not only are students trying to stay afloat in school they are bombarded with news of a failing economy and job losses which last month marked a thirty four year low according to the USA TODAY on Monday. As students scramble to study the last notes and read the last chapters it seems there is never enough time in the day. "The hours just seem to disappear in the day. With work and school I can't find all the hours I need to feel like I'm fully prepared for all of my finals" says UVU freshman Peter Smith. Peter from Brigham City, Utah is supporting himself while paying for his own schooling. He says "it gets a little overwhelming sometimes but at the end of the day I'm just grateful to have a job while I put myself through school". Although finals are rough, students look forward to the holidays which provide a much needed break after a long semester and grueling finals. Students turn to their families for a stress relief as well as a motivator to start a new semester in January. UVU finals go from Dec. 15th through Dec. 20th.

word count:312