What Not to Do During Finals Week

So in a little less than two weeks, it will be summer time! However, the only thing keeping us from enjoying sweet, sweet summer are those dreaded final exams. With a case of spring fever and wanting to jump in the pool, how does one throw study time into the mix?

There's always a few like this in class with you, haha!

Here are some ideas of what not to do while preparing for finals week!

5 Weeks!

                                       The semester is near it's end. 

                                    so say goodbye to all your friends.

                                          the deadlines do not bend.

                                             and soon you will say,

                                     "seriously, when will this ever end?"

                                         and throw down your pen. 

I'm feeling pretty confident in myself at this moment. Earlier today, I took a test in one of my classes that when I walked out of the last test I knew I failed it (I ended up with a 72 with a 30 point curve).

I went after with the plan to complete a project for the class but that didn't happen. As I get family members badgering me to come home for the weekend and Thanksgiving. I feeling pretty "meh" about Thanksgiving since my significant other is going to South Padre with his family. Not getting to spend the holiday with him is pretty blah to me since we spent last Thanksgiving together. 
   The "me" feeling is also being agitated when I had the realization that we have five weeks left in this semester.While i'm excited this semester is coming to an end, In my mind, this is crunch time. This is the final countdown really. I keep fighting procrastination at this point. The coding and programs are piling up. Writing actual sentences is really weird for me because i'm so used to doing java.
So, to survive the final countdown we must:
1. Fight the procrastination monster
2. SLEEEEPPPPP
3. Eat healthy (I say this and i'm pretty sure i'm eating pizza for dinner)
4. Use the methods that help you retain the most information , no matter how repetitive and annoying it is.
5. Hang with friends< you might not see em' til the next semester or ever..>

Peace, as I spend tomorrow looking deeply in my computer screen trying to code Visual Basic and trying not to have a headache. 

Keep Calm and Patriot On

So the last two weeks have been very, very tough. I had my first microbiology exam, followed by a lab exam, with a statistics project and exam due within a week of each other, a music exam, with - last but not least- my political science exam.  It is as though my professors all consulted each other and said, “Let her take ALL the tests!” The wonders of being a nursing major indeed. 

I just know that this is what goes in those emails

The good news is that this upcoming week should be pretty smooth sailing, with only the standard, every day class quizzes. This is why it is important to stay up on your reading! Some classes will do these every day quizzes, and as long as you are staying up on your work, these are easy A points in the grade book. Here are some tips to get you through these “storm” weeks and into a “zen” week, where there’s little pressure. 

I love the little bridge!

Habits, Practicing Self-Control, and Reading Lists

               

Me! Hey there!

  One of the biggest challenges for myself ( a newly minted Graduate Student ) is learning, and re-learning, better habits.  I have been stuck in a series of what some might call ‘detrimental’ habits over the last year – eating more fast food than home cooked food, waking up later instead of sleeping earlier, etc… These habits are not alien to college/grad-students, but some other habits I have are unique to me.

Here Come Finals

There are less than two weeks until Christmas break here at UT Tyler, and that means... drumroll... FINALS!

I stress over tests badly, and I look enviously at the couple friends of mine who only have one or two finals to take. (I am however thankful that I am not one of the people who have more than one a day).

I have four finals coming up this week and I'm handling it the way any typical college student would: living at the library, pulling all-nighters, and drinking liters of coffee a day.

Many of you may be like my roommate, calmly studying in our room, going to SI sessions, taking lots of breaks and lots of naps, and eating 3 well-balanced meals a day.

I hope for the latter. Take care of yourself, get some sleep, and DON'T STRESS. A nice post I came across from earlier this year gave some awesome tips on how to destress.

Good luck on finals everyone! You can do it!

Know YOUR Study Needs!

As we are all aware, Finals Week is here at UT Tyler! This is my Finals Week face: 

Speaking of Finals Week, it's definitely time to hit the books hard and crack down on those study habits! 

Now, everyone has different preferences for studying, so in order to study effectively, you need to know yourself well enough to know what type environment you need for studying! 

Personally, I have to have something going on in the background - usually music! My choice of music entertainment comes from Pandora. You can create a free account, then have all kinds of different "stations" based on a song, artist, or genre! My Pandora consists of a lot of *chill* stations like Matt Nathanson, Boyce Avenue, Ed Sheeran, and Colbie Caillat. 

As for the environment, my preference is to study in a comfortable setting like somewhere in my house, my room, or the Business Building (where most of my classes are located). There's also some other GREAT places around campus for studying! 

So, my overall suggestions for your studies this week are: 

1. Know yourself and what you need. Adjust your study times/places/habits accordingly. 

2. Find a comfortable environment that will optimize your studying. 

3. Don't stress! Prepare as well as you can, and do your best on the test. There's nothing more you can do! 

Comment below and let me know some of your study tips/habits, and good luck this week fellow students! :) 

Final Semester CHAOS

   So this is not my normal kind of post, but this semester has been extremely insane. I've dealt with the turbulence of Biology classes ( three at once! ), taking my final level of Japanese, and then also doing online-classes to boot!

Alternative Adaptation Avoidance

Alternative Adaptation Avoidance: That isn't “my” Odyssey! 

   So, as by now many of you know, I am an English major with a bit of an interest in diverse forms of literature. Recently I got to have a conversation with one of my friends which dovetailed into what I will explain here in this post. My friend and I were heavily engaged in a discourse about the ethical pros and cons of alternative media … aka: we were totally talking about comics books. We’re nerds, this is what we do when we’re not doing homework.

The chaos of "the last semester" ...

   To some, this won't make sense. 

   To some, this will be preaching to the choir.

   To others, this will seem like I am recalling something they experienced in the past.

   This is my final semester as an Undergraduate!

UT Tyler Student Vlog: Tour of the Third Floor of the University Center

             Katrina were chilling on the third floor of the UC and it was quiet (SERIOUSLY?!?! probably just summer) so we decided to show y'all the offices that are located up there. Among them, we mention the SI Office, Disability Services, the Student Counseling Center, Academic Advising, Student Life and Leadership. The book store and coffee shops got an honorable mention. ;) You think we'd leave out the coffee?

Pre-Spring Break stress!

The week has hardly started yet but the stress of the week before for spring break is coming slowly and surely. 

Students are having multiple tests and projects due this week while they prepare to go off and spend the break relaxing...mostly. So this me, Emmy Conn, being proactive and synergised! against this mound of stress that is about to beat me up and call me a sissy! (oh snap, at least it didn't call me a lintlicker, then I would have to metaphorically have to do the boxer tango with stress) 

So to be proactive against this monster 

I have created a list of what i'm doing to stay awesome this week: 

1. For Monday morning

2. Studying

but not 

3. and lastly 

Study Spot.

My co-worker Megan Allen posted about her favorite study spot here: http://go2uttyler.blogspot.com/2012/01/inspired-by-school-please-hold-your.html

I've decided to join on this as the time I spend not at work or class is mostly spent studying. I often have dates with my history and accounting textbooks till very late at night. I like being in high populated areas when I study which I think is because I get tired of being cooped up alone in my double with no roommate at Ornelas Hall.

My study spot here on campus is also my favorite people watching spot on campus which is on the Harvey decks. I'd really like to study leaning on the trees near the University Center but that didn't work out to well. The pain of getting up after some odd number hours studying the wonderful aspects of the Native Indians before the Europeans was not worth it. So I settle with oddly sitting(body half out of my seat and legs setting on chair across from me)at one tables of Harvey Deck.

The people watching aspect is the added plus for me about this spot because it's actually not that of a populated area but it gets quite a bite of foot traffic. I like studying at the University Second floor also because it is also a good people watching area but the smell of the food and coffee just makes me hungry and too unfocused to do homework.

:)

Actually Inspired by School?

Having the entire afternoon to read and write on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons allows me to get in some quality homework time. I know, I know. Studying isn't supposed to be fun, but now that I am in classes that pertain more to my future, I have been really inspired. I even opened my wallet for good pens and new notebooks to take notes. Wait, I'm actually taking notes.
I love my major. 

My favorite place to study is the third floor of our new University Center. The area has big chairs and tables to set up to pour over a book or write a paper. I never have to decide between my netbook and my phone, because I have access to as many plugs as I need.  The upstairs area of the UC is like sitting outside, but with a bit more protection from the elements. The warm sunlight shines down on me from the ceiling wide skylight. I believe it energizes me, as well as the caffeine from a Starbucks mocha. Life is good.  It makes me forget Washington Irving is not me favorite American writer, and gives me the opportunity to practice the rhetorical possibilities of understatements.  

My favorite part of college, officially, is the ability to have a choice my classes and times. I have had 8am classes, night classes, and independent study classes. I am so thankful college has taught me about my own learning habits and what works well for me. It certainly helps that I've become "liberated" by my communications class, and have a hand in making the syllabus (which is going on quite well, I should add).

When did I become responsible?
Did I mention I love my classes?