June 23, 2025 • Behind the Scenes
When it’s the busiest week of the semester, your team is overloaded with work, every day feels like a marathon, and you need something to help you get across the finish line…
You need an “Exit Buddy.”
With a name inspired by the movie Finding Nemo, members of the Testing and Evaluation Services (TES) office have found a bit of joy and fun from the little things during the “all-hands-on-deck” week of final exams.
“The end of the semester is the most challenging time for us,” says TES Director Rebel Jones. “We recognize the fact that our folks are working extra hours, just really nose to the grindstone.”
Lyndsey Wilson, TES Assistant Director reports that the team administers about twice the usual number of exams in each of the final two weeks of the semester. “It is definitely a hectic couple of weeks!”
Recognizing the strain the whole team was under, Rebel says they started thinking about how to provide something for the team to look forward to during these challenging weeks.
So, in Spring 2022, Emily Morehead and Andrea Gordon, both former TES Assistant Directors, came up with the idea of “Exit Buddy Week.” Similar to a Secret Santa, each TES employee is randomly assigned a top-secret “Exit Buddy.”
Your assignment is simple: You give your buddy one small gift per day without spending more than $30 for the entire week. The focus is on the thoughtfulness not the cost and it has led to a lot of cute ideas for “little bitty gifts.” Whether an inexpensive purchase, an encouraging note, or a homemade item, TES team members are delighted to discover what their buddy gives them.
“I love seeing everyone sharing what they got each day from their Exit Buddy,” says Lyndsey. “It’s such a high stress time during finals with the amount of assessments we administer and making sure we’re meeting deadlines to wrap up courses for the end of semester that this helps bring a little fun and stress relief to the crazy time.”
“As each semester comes to a close, the increased workload can feel overwhelming,” says Lauren Satterwhite, TES Testing Specialist. “Exit Buddy Week provides a pause amid the chaos to be present and connect with my coworkers each day.”
The tricky part is getting the gift onto your buddy’s desk without them finding out who it’s from!
“That became part of the fun!” says Rebel. “We would get other people in DSA involved in delivering gifts.” (Shoutout to repeat helpers Robert from ODA and Brianna and Jerrie from CSL!)
Nobody knows who their or anyone else’s buddy is until the big reveal at the end of the week.
But that doesn’t stop the excitement of trying to solve who everyone’s buddy is throughout the week. This component gets a lot of attention from the staff, and most still end up surprised to find they guessed wrong when the big reveal occurs. “Our people have been pretty adept at hiding who they are,” says Rebel, explaining how his team members even take steps to intentionally mislead their gift recipient to keep from being discovered.
There also have been early morning and after-hours deliveries, some of which have gone awry when the recipient unexpectedly arrives early or returns to their office and catches the “culprit.” But these have only added to the smiles and laughter.
“One of my favorite things is getting to see how different team members find joy in the week,” says Lauren. “Some find the most joy in the thrill of the mystery, narrowing down who their secret buddy could be, while others find comfort in the thoughtful (or silly) gifts they receive.”
Adam Vigé, TES Specialist, says he looks forward to Exit Buddy week every semester. “It brings a sense of fun and positivity to an otherwise busy and stressful time, helping to lift the mood in the office and remind us that we’re all in it together.”
The 30-minute reveal party features breakfast burritos and is scheduled for a time on Friday when everyone can be present. “It’s something fun to look forward to during a hectic week,” says Lyndsey, “and we each get to guess who we think our person was and see if we were right or way off.”
“It feels a bit like a game of Clue, with everyone making guesses and sharing their ‘evidence,’” says Adam. “There are lots of laughs, a few surprising reveals, and an overall sense of appreciation across the team.”
“It’s a great opportunity for us to be human around one another,” says Rebel. “That bit of bonding has been just as strong as any team-building activity that we’ve done.”
“I love getting to hear everyone’s stories—like if someone was almost caught sneaking in their gifts, or the creative thought that went behind each present or note,” says Lauren. “I find the week to be such a fun, refreshing experience, and enjoy getting to create these shared memories with my coworkers!”
“It’s a simple but meaningful way to support one another and boost morale during the most demanding part of the year,” says Adam.
TES has shown that even during the busiest periods at work, there are ways to be present in the moment, exit the fast-paced current, and find joy and connection through the little things.
All you need is an exit buddy.