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.
