The “Final” Stretch…

The breathtaking leaves of the fall are now brown and crunchy with every step, the crisp, pleasant breeze has turned frigid, and Nicholasville Road is relentlessly packed with caring moms who seek to buy an Xbox half-price for their kiddo. And how could I forget the Eggnog and Gingerbread lattes at Starbucks filling your nostrils in Ovid’s? This all only means one thing: CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE! It seems like we all just herded back to campus last week, and just completed our first round of exams the other day. I mean, wasn’t it around 70 degrees last week?  Though the presents are multiplying under the tree and the hot cocoa is disappearing from the shelves like crazy, the only demons that stand between you and your awesome break are finals. Booo, I know. However, there are some pretty simple ways to avoid bombing the exams and having to retake the classes (which is no bueno for anybody). A few things that I’ve learned from my peers and mentors over the past one and a half years are listed below:study,

·         Flashcards are your friend.

- Though they may not be efficient for every subject, I have learned-especially from chemistry-that the only way to be good at something difficult is to repeat the process a bunch of times. The more you work a titration problem, explain the music during the Renaissance, or define medical terminology, the easier you’ll remember it. Just make sure you are doing them correctly. It stinks when you work a problem 5 times, only to realize you learned how to do it the wrong way.

·         Utilize study groups.

- Being an extremely independent student/person, this is my least favorite, yet possibly most beneficial tip. There’s only so much knowledge you can retain from class. Fortunately, what you may not have picked up along the way might be what your buddy a few seats down learned in high school. Being able to share information and bounce ideas around a group of peers is one of the best ways to figure out problems, as well as remember pertinent information that will likely be on a final exam. So as much as you may dislike working with others, your brain will be much happier that you obtained some help.

·         Take breaks!

- There’s nothing more frustrating than staring blankly at the bottom of a page only to realize that you have no idea what you just read. When that happens (because it definitely will), take a break, even if it is just a quick stop in the kitchen for a drink. A word of warning though: don’t log on to Facebook. Once you see that Sally is now single and Joe got a new car, it becomes extremely difficult to motivate yourself to get back to work, especially when all your FB friends aren’t. Just don’t.

·         Go to class, even on dead week.

- OK: Teachers don’t take attendance, no homework can be assigned, no pop quizzes. Sounds like a pretty perfect time to sleep a little extra, right? Wrong. Going to class during dead week is one of the best ways to prepare for your finals. Since new material is hardly ever covered during this time, most professors will utilize the class period to reviewing what has already been taught, thus helping you come to terms about what will be on the final. Yes, sleep and relaxations are key elements to being successful, but not when the professors are hand-feeding you exam help.

·         Laugh like you mean it.

- I’ve always been told that laughter is the best medicine. I can attest to that being completely factual. Having a rough time studying? Watch Elf. Even if you don’t like movie, it’s hard not to laugh. Laughter releases endorphins that make you happy. It’s simple science: laugh and you’ll feel better. Still don’t like Elf? SNL should do the trick. No TV? Find a goofy friend and do something unconventional: ice-skating downtown is sure to get some chuckles when you find yourself sitting on the ice more than standing on it.

·         Run, baby run.

- Though I played sports my entire life, I still hate to run, even if I feel like a rock star after I’m done. However, physical activity is one of the best things you can do for yourself during finals week. It helps you keep focus. It makes you happy because of those awesome endorphins being released again. It helps you sleep better at night. It boosts your self-confidence. Even if you do 50 jumping jacks or jog in place for 5 minutes, any form of exercise helps.

·         Don’t go crazy on the coffee and skittles.

- Since being at UK, I have developed this odd, yet delicious obsession with Starbucks coffee. It’s not really an addiction, because when I go home where Starbucks aren’t prevalent I don’t crave the black gold, but while on campus I feel like its part of my routine. Though the caffeine in black coffee is great for waking you up and getting you going, but after noon or so, enough is enough. It’s the same with sugar in skittles and junk food. Though you are working your fanny off, it does not provide an excuse to go crazy with your consumption habits. (This goes for alcohol as well). Treat your stomach right and you will avoid the complications that come with negligence. If you just HAVE to visit Starbucks every day, opt for hot tea. It contains substantially smaller caffeine kicks and will still provide you with a hot beverage to sip on.

·         Sleep like a baby.

- Sleep is essential for optimum performance. Sleep depravation causes you to become less articulate, more forgetful, and ultimately less able to think clearly. Eight or nine hours a night is ideal, but probably not practical for the amount of studying being done (hopefully). Therefore, get as many Z’s as you can at night, but then take a nap or two during the day if you can manage it. Think of yourself as a battery: you can’t last forever without being recharged.

·         Vitamin C, yo!

- As insignificant as it may seem, Vitamin C (along with sleep, exercise, and healthy eating) is essential in maintaining a healthy immune system. I recommend Emergen-C packets that you mix with water; raspberry is quite tasty. One of my biggest fears of finals week is being sick. It’s hard enough to keep focused, but especially with the addition of cold chills and a fever.

·         Call your Momma.

- I am not ashamed to say that I call my parents every night. It isn’t only because I’m scared what my momma would do if I didn’t, but I really benefit from venting about my day and challenges I’m facing to them. I also enjoy hearing about what’s happening back home because it keeps my head on straight and not engulfed in my own little world. Your parents/guardians/family are the best resources to provide you with a “mental hug”, which we all need during the crazy-stressful environment of finals week. Just call them. You’ll benefit as much as they will.

·         Be naughty nice.

- This may seem silly, but I’ve learned that life is good when you are good to others. Open the door for your classmates. Loan a pencil to your neighbor. Simply smile at people you pass along the sidewalk. Being nice should be a year-round attribute anyway, but if it isn’t, now is the best time to try. Not only will you make others’ days better, it doesn’t exactly hurt your self-image either. And a good self-image creates confidence for success. And as a side note, Santa is still watching you, and he’s coming to town soon.

·         Reward yourself.

- I saw this little tip online the other day: put a gummy bear at the end of every paragraph of your book, or on every notecard you have to review. After you have read the paragraph or notecard, eat the gummy bear. What an awesome idea! Rewards can be as small as that, or as big as going to eat at Malone’s or getting a puppy if you make good final grades. Providing rewards for yourself provides another facet for your desire to do well. And for me, the more facets the better.

I’m not at all saying that these tips will ensure A’s on all your finals (though I wish there was a definite way to do so myself), but I am 100% confident that they will help you out a little, if not a lot. Good luck to my fellow wildcats, and continue to see blue, even in the season of green and red.

Alex B. is a sophomore from Eddyville, Kentucky and is an Agricultural Biotechnology student.  His future career goals are to attend medical school.  Alex is involved as a College of Agriculture Ambassador, is in the UK Honors Program, and part of Christian Student Fellowship.

Beyond the Costume: A Look Into the Life of a Mascot

Shhhh, I have a secret.  I may or may not know one of the University of Kentucky mascots. But, there’s one rule in mascoting: do not reveal your identity. They are the completely recognizable, but the most unrecognizable athletes of UK. Everyone knows them instantaneously by their alter egos, but would never be able to point out the humans behind the mask if they saw them on campus.

No home game would be the same without Wildcat and Scratch posing for pictures and poking fun at people. Fans get great pleasure when one of them steals the hat of their friend, but loses their sense of humor quickly when they become the butt of the joke. A particular fan favorite, though, is when a UofL fan loses their hat or University gear.

There’s definitely an art to making a giant cat have human expressions and carry on a conversation with people without actually talking. They are essentially mimes without the black and white face paint and outfit. It takes skill to improvise an entire scene that starts with something as simple as being handed a peanut by a kid who wants Wildcat or Scratch to eat it. While this may seem simple, it is infinitely more difficult to enact this scene when the peanut happens to get stuck in the mascot’s teeth. How do you tell a cheerleader that you have a peanut stuck in your teeth without actually saying the words “I have a peanut stuck in my teeth and I need help getting it out!” The crowd breaks out in laughter as he extracts the peanut and hands the now slimy peanut to an innocent cheerleader who is responsible for disposing of said peanut. 

 For some though, the giant furry cat is not an expression of fun and excitement, but a reminder of an intense fear. They never know if the child they are getting ready to take a picture with, whose parent has shoved their child into the arms of the mascot, will laugh and smile or scream, cry, and potentially run away. For some, this fear doesn’t stop when they turn 18 though. There are many, including well known UK basketball players (who will remain anonymous just as the mascots do), who’s fear of mascots extends well into their adult life. I have watched a 6’7” grown man run for his life down a school hallway and hide inside a locked classroom to avoid the mascot because of how intense his fear was. Who would think that a smiling Wildcat or Scratch could evoke such fear? They are potentially risking their life every time they suit up.

Without Wildcat and Scratch, UK would not be the same. They are there to entertain the crowds which may include dancing to popular songs, playing mascot basketball, or taking pictures with people at games and appearances. And while they are very well known, they live in anonymity which is exactly the way they want it. Because the other rule of mascoting is to never ruin the illusion. When the suit goes on, they become the mascot, but even when the suit comes off, they never truly leave the mascot behind. Every one of them has a part of that fun loving, beloved cat in them. It’s the only way they enjoy and excel at being their alter egos. 

     
Staci is a senior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Agricultural Biotechnology.  Her family lives in Kentucky, but comes to us from Virginia.  She is the College of Agriculture SGA Senator, a COA Agriculture Ambassador, and rides horses in her spare time. 

I'm already thinking about Spring Break next year...

   

I know what comes to your mind whenever you think about spring break, especially for a college student: PARTY TIME!! FIST PUMP!!  For some this may be true, but for most it’s not.  A vacation is always nice, but spending your vacation giving back to the community sounds like the perfect spring break to me.  There are numerous opportunities that students can participate in during spring break.  At the University of Kentucky, the Center for Community Outreach (CCO) does an excellent job providing what they call Alternative Spring Break opportunities.  There were six different trips that the CCO organized this year.  Some of the trips were in the United States, while others were international.  Each trip was planned in conjunction with a non-profit organization.  The options for an Alternative Spring Break were as follows:

·         David, KY: Youth in Appalachia

·         Atlanta, GA: Refugee Resettlement

·         Biloxi, MS: Rebuilding After Katrina

·         Washington, DC: Hunger and Homelessness

·         Santo Domingo, Ecuador: Global Health and Wellness

·         Jaibon, Dominican Republic: Global Youth Empowerment

             

Can you imagine how awesome it would be to visit Ecuador or the Dominican Republic over your spring break?  It is such a small price for a big opportunity.  The experience would be everlasting and the impact that you could make on the people you are helping would be something you would never forget.  I didn’t realize that I could actually participate in the Alternative Spring Break Program, until after the deadline had already passed for this year.  However, I will not pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity next year.  You would be surprised how much the simplest things can mean to a person.  I can’t even begin to think how thankful that people that are being helped through these organizations feel after a group of amazing people come to help their community.  From going on one of these trips, the CCO guarantees that you will come back with “new friends, new knowledge, a renewed sense of self, and a renewed desire to serve.”  An Alternative Spring Break is a way to have a great vacation and a rewarding experience.  Who knows, you may be one of my new friends that I met next year on one of these trips.  I hope to see you there!

Hanna is a junior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Agricultural Biotechnology.  She is from Chaplin, Kentucky.  Her goal is to attend pharmacy school.  She is involved with UK Block & Bridle, and is a COA Agricultural Ambassador.