Don't Obsess with the Stress

The end of the spring semester seems to creep up on us every year. As students, we suddenly find ourselves stressing out over deadlines, grades, finding internships and jobs, and shopping for the perfect Kentucky Derby dress. Many of us, however, dread one thing more than anything else- exams! In order to help out my fellow students and provide a little stress relief, I have come up with a list of tips and tricks to help get through this time of the year.

1.  Make sure to utilize Willy T. as place of study, not a hang out.  The best hours to study at the main library are really late at night or in the early hours of the morning, when it’s quiet and calm! Also, check out some of the other libraries found around campus to find a quiet workspace!
2. There are 4 Starbucks located on campus. They’re located at Commons, Ovid’s Cafe, the student center, and the Kentucky Clinic.  No flex dollars left? Maybe try trading meal swipes for a tall mocha.
3. If you have any concerns or questions, take advantage of The Study located on south campus. Gathering in small groups with others who take the class can also be a helpful technique.

4. Remember to relax! Try listening to soft music while you study, taking frequent breaks, or maybe watch some meditation videos on YouTube to distress.  Try this one for starters.

5.  Make sure you stop by your professor’s office hours if you have any questions before the final!

6.  Check and double-check your syllabus for exam date, location and time, and if you tend to be a heavy sleeper, it may be a good idea to set two alarms.

7.  Make sure to get outdoors finals week, even if it means taking the books outside! A little fresh air goes a long way!

8.  To-do lists are a great way to accomplish tasks and plan the week ahead!

9.  Unless you’re using your phone or tablet for studying, keep them away for as much time as you can! If you just can’t be away from it, make it a reward for the time studying (i.e. 1.5 hours studying = 10 minutes of phone time).

10.  Most importantly, get a good nights rest, and eat a healthy breakfast the day of your exam. If you stay up all night cramming for a test, it will be hard to function and concentrate!

 A big good luck to everyone on your finals! If you have any more tips to add, feel free to comment below! You never know whose week you might make less stressful!

Best of luck!

Hillary

Hillary is a Landscape Architecture student from Cincinnati, Ohio.  

It’s always a good time in the COA

I "CatPaw" UK Ag!

April 18, 2013 marked a very eventful day in the UK College of Agriculture, as not one, but two incredible events took place, extending from Commonwealth stadium to the E.S. Goodbarn, and even across Cooper to the Seay Auditorium in Ag. North. UK Field Day was first to the plate, including hundreds of agriculturally-minded students in FFA and/or 4H from all over the state that were prepped and anxious to gain the competitive edge over the other contestants. Events included livestock judging, weed and seed identification, tractor driving, auctioneering, and much more. Between the competitions, the high school students enjoyed some pretty tasty burgers and were able to learn about the numerous opportunities available to them in the College of Agriculture if, or hopefully when, they become freshmen at UK. The event was a huge success for both the college and the visiting schools.

Next up to bat was the annual Ag. Bash, sponsored by the Ag. Student Council and the UK SGA. The event was open to any and all students in the college, and the first 100 students that made a donation to the Ronald McDonald House received a pretty swanky lime green UK Ag. T-shirt. Not to mention, food was in full array, including donations from Chipotle, Qdoba, Wal-Mart, Subway, Cane’s, and the infamous Ale-8. The ginormous steak burrito I enjoyed sure did hit the spot! Also, the entertainment for the event was incredible, featuring the Brown Brothers Band, who sure knew how to get your feet tappin’ and your hands clappin’. It was such a fun event, and the company wasn’t too shabby, either!  Here's a video of the last song as some Ag Student Council members celebrated!

One of the best parts of the College of Agriculture is that days like this are not a rarity. In fact, it’s more of a rarity when there isn’t a campus event going on during the week. This makes for one of the coolest atmospheres on the campus, where every student is passionate about their futures and look forward to networking and taking leadership roles on a weekly basis, not just every now and then. Being a sophomore, I now realize why I have had such a successful past two years here at UK--it’s all about the people I’m constantly surrounded by and the opportunities presented to me by the college. I never thought in a hundred years that I would be giving tours to prospective students or representing the college as a senator for student government. I am beyond amazed where the College of Agriculture has taken me thus far, and how many awesome opportunities are available to us if we merely open our eyes to them. 

What gets me the most excited is realizing that I still have two whole years to be an ag. student, and there’s no limit to what I can accomplish during the time.

Alex is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Biotechnology and is also pre-med.  He is from Eddyville, Kentucky.