The end of the semester can be an overwhelming time with final exams and projects, and Iowa State students are relieving stress at the Ames ISU Ice Arena.

Throughout the semester, the Ames ISU Ice Arena offers discounted rates on Wednesday nights where students can lace up ice skates and enjoy a study break with friends.

Wednesday nights from September to April from 8 to 9 p.m. the arena offers a deal for Iowa State students with admission dropped from $5.50 to $3.50 and skate rental from $3.00 to $2.00.

This makes the rink a busy place Wednesday nights as students wait in a line that sometimes stretches out the front door to get access to the arena.

Even during the stress of dead week students still flocked to the arena on Wednesday. Many students felt that ice skating was the perfect way to forget about their studies and have a bit of fun.

“My friends invited me and I felt like it would be a good way to get my mind off of studying and writing papers and just kind of have some fun,” said Taylor Gage, sophomore in elementary education.

Amongst the students were arena veterans but also rookies taking their first steps on the ice.

“It’s pretty hard [ice skating], a lot harder than what I expected actually,” said Bryan Rodriguez, a senior in finance.

Most of the students there were recruited by friends, pulled from their studies to have some fun.

“We came out to have some fun, have a break from studying and just have fun,” said Morgan Allen, junior in child, adult and family services.

Finals week can seem like the end of the world, everyone may have their own coping strategies, but ice skating and being with friends could be worth a try according to Wednesday’s skaters.

“I was super stressed before coming here and now I’m like not stressed at all, just getting my mind off of [studying], having some fun,” said Natalena Rumley, freshman in family and consumer science education.

Ice skating is just one of many fun activities that students can take time to do in between their studies, any kind of break to take the mind off of stressors is beneficial.

“I have a lot of other things going on just like, trying to look into the future like grad school and stuff so just like really making me focus on my feet and staying up,” Allen said.