At last, the 2023 fall semester and its dreaded finals week has (nearly) come to a close.

How and where you study is neither here nor there. Still, it’s an undeniable truth that many students flock to the library, academic buildings, or anywhere they can find a quiet, comfortable space to work. One common thing can be seen among students, no matter where they’ve tucked themselves away: a coffee cup.

Whether you opt for the quieter café locations in the dining halls, the hustle and bustle of the HUB or Paterno Starbucks, or even a Panera, let’s take a moment to reflect and say, “Thank you.”

As someone dependent on caffeine, I frequent coffee shops all across campus. I’ve always admired the workers’ ability to remain calm and efficient after the 9 a.m. classes let out and their ability to remain patient when they have to tell three customers in a row they’re out of oat milk.

Like anyone else, I have my favorites. The one with the bright-colored hair, the one who makes my drink perfectly, the manager who always sounds like she has never been happier to be giving drinks to students and has never been anything but a girlboss behind that counter.

The Starbucks baristas probably don’t know me, but I certainly know them.

So, when I took up residence in the library beginning on Sunday, I had plenty of time to wait in line for my overpriced drinks and sandwiches and reflect on the chaos that these workers encounter every day — especially during finals week.

Early last week, on-campus Starbucks locations posted their extended finals week hours, which were 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. nearly every day. While this makes sense because of the extended hours that the entire student body adopts, it’s still a long time to be dealing with sleep-deprived, stressed young adults.

The hours are only made more impressive when you remember the majority of baristas across campus coffee shops are students — students who also have finals and also want to go home for break. Even those who aren’t current scholars have to deal with an insane number of people each day as students who haven’t gone to class since the first week of the semester show up to the library to cram.

Though I’m sure it was a stressful week (as confirmed by me overhearing one employee say she was thrilled for Friday to come), so many of us would be lost without you all. We appreciate you not blinking when we ask for extra shots in drinks at 8 p.m. or visit the same location several times in the same day while trying to justify sandwiches as full meals.

Throughout the past few days, you’ve seen students at their highest, having just completed their last exam ever, and their lowest, utterly brain dead and exhausted with two finals to go. Though it’s not always easy to express our gratitude when we’re on the move in between classes or buried in a book, it’s important you know that we’re thankful for you.

Nobody ever said using caffeine as a study aid was healthy, but it sure can be effective. For all of the iced coffee poured, espresso shots pulled, and cold brew brewed, thank you.

For giving us your time, patience, a pick-me-up at the most crucial of times, and a smile… thank you.