Finals Week & Stress

“Stress: The confusion created when one’s mind overrides the body’s basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some jerk who desperately deserves it.” - Lee Iacocca.

At this point in the semester, some (if not all) students have dealt with stress. There’s worry about finishing assignments in time, passing finals and passing classes. Not only is there worry, but there’s the want to rush through exams so they will be done and summer can finally begin. Stress is a big problem that can get in the way... a lot. From what I’ve learned through this Academic year, high school stress has absolutely nothing on college stress.

There are two links that I have found that can help with both cases: stress during finals and college stress in general. Seeing as finals are coming up within the next two weeks, it’s a good idea to make sure to keep stress at bay.

How to Reduce Stress During Finals Week is the first link, providing a list of examples to try to lower stress. There aren’t many examples given, but the ones they do give can be helpful. The idea that I like the most is making a list and writing down everything. Writing down everything can make a person feel less stressed, as they have a clearer perspective of the week to come. One of the examples that I do not suggest, however, is spending 15-20 minutes doing something fun. It’s not that I don’t like the idea, because I do; but I’m sure that I’m not the only person who knows the outcome of this. You’ll give yourself a 15 minute time limit, then when it gets to that 15 minutes you’ll move it to 20, and so on until you have spent over an hour watching YouTube and playing a video game. It’s a good idea, just not for teenagers.

How to Reduce College Stress is the second link that gives tips on everyday stress. The tips given in this link are self-explanatory and should definitely work. Some of the tips are kind of common sense: get some sleep, get some food, and get some fun. When stressed some of these things don’t come to mind though, so it’s best to follow the advice given.

I wish the best to all students with their finals. Only a little more than a week left before the end of the semester!

Spring Break

The pollen count is high, the sun is out (for the most part), and it’s getting warmer each day... it’s official - Spring is in our midst! We are more than midway through the semester, Spring Break is next week, and the end of the Spring semester seems to be getting closer a lot faster than last semester. Whether this is a good thing or not, I do not know. For the time being, however, I suggest we bask in the greatness that is Frostburg weather and patiently await the upcoming Spring Break!

Top Ten Things To Do/Not To Do This Spring Break gives great examples of things to do/look forward to do during your Spring Break, as well as things to avoid. Or, if you’re a geek and would rather not do the things on the first list, I suggest this list of Top Five Things to do on Spring Break.
Also, if you’re low on money (like myself), there are some cheap things you can do as well while on Spring Break - as shown in 10 Cheap Things To Do Over Spring Break. My favorite from that list would have to be number 4.
4. FINISH THAT…
Finish reading that book you started but never got around to finishing during school. Finish that art project that you weren’t able to find time to do. Finish watching that series that you started but got too busy to watch every week. Instead of taking this time to try completing a new project in a week, take this time to get older things done. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the task of completing everything! Choose one or two things you’d like to complete and get to work.

We set things aside for classes, exams, and college life... why not pick up everything you started but never finished? It seems like Spring Break is a great time to finish, especially if you want to relax.
I hope that these links have helped those of you who were clueless about what you were going to do this Spring Break. I, for one, know that I’m going to start reading the Hunger Games - due to the recommendation of a friend.

Have a great Spring Break! : )

Finances

Almost halfway through the semester! Winter is nearly over, Spring is coming in, and Summer should be here in no-time! Though, as we near the beginning of March we realize that we only have so much time to do everything. There’s classes, tests, homework, studying time, worrying about filling out scholarship information, FAFSA, figuring out the living situation for next semester, etc. But it’s times like these when a person has to get his/her priorities straightened and make time for each important event.
Remember to make time to sit down and fill out the scholarship information (which is online this Academic year). The deadline for 2012-2013 is April 2, 2012. The FAFSA deadline, however, is March 1st. March 1st as in tomorrow’s date. I hadn’t checked my FAFSA, nor had I remembered any of my information, so I waited until the day before (today) to finish. It’s always good to make time and remember these dates just in case you go to fill everything out when it’s too late.
Figuring out how to pay for college is one of the most important things during this time, so it’s always good to be punctual with the deadlines.
If any of my readers have an idea for my next post, let me know via SMT Facebook, Frostburg Email (cawarnick0@frostburg.edu), or comment below!

“When we make college more affordable, we make the American dream more achievable.”
-William J. Clinton.

Welcome Back!

    Welcome back FSU students! It may just be me, but it felt as though Winter Break would never end! Not that we would want it to... I hope that all of you have had an amazing break and are ready for the Spring semester!  I know, for one, that I couldn't bare the thought of classes starting and tried to prolong coming back to campus for as long as possibly I could.  Now that I’m here, I don’t understand why I was pushing it off for so long.

    This semester is going to be a bit different from the first, not only because it’s my second semester as a freshman, but because I’m also taking an online course.  I’m sure that some of you are getting into the swing of things while others are trying to figure out how to manage themselves this semester.  My fear at the start of this semester was that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with my online course; now I know that said fear was irrelevant, as long as I make enough time for myself and the class.
    Some of you may already be having trouble with your classes, but do not fret, for it is not too late! There is still time before it’s too late to drop/add a class; so I suggest that if you don’t feel as though you’re capable of handling a class, then make a decision on whether you should keep it or drop it.
    In addition, a special thank you to those who have read this blog and contacted me about it! : ) I enjoy getting feedback on how I’m doing and learning whether the tips I give are complete garbage or not.
    Good luck to all of you this semester!

“We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.”

- Stevie Wonder.