She Goes Out Walking....

Note: While the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment does think it's a good idea to clear your head and walk around campus and Lexington, make sure you are following these safety tips as presented by the UK Police Department.

Recently, I have taken a few walks around campus in the middle of the night. A contrast from the usual shuffle, energy, and sunshine, it is peaceful and quiet. On my walk, I reflected on some of the opportunities I have at UK. 

At UK there are thousands of organizations to get involved in. You can learn a martial art, a new language, get fit, or watch movies. There are so many people here that you will find people that share your passions, dreams, and truths. You’ll be busy balancing work, classes, a social life, your health, your family, and sanity. Let’s focus on that last one.

At college, it is incredibly easy to get overwhelmed. Personally, I want to experience everything so I always say “yes”. There are endless opportunities in college and the most important part is that you have enough time to enjoy them. What is the point of doing everything if you’re rushing between events and meetings and are constantly thinking about the next thing you have to do. Live in the moment. Sometimes it is better to be more deeply involved a few organizations so that you can be a part of the leadership and gain skills that future employers are looking for. A lot of people can show up to meetings and manage their time to make sure they can get from one commitment to another, but being able to organize a group of people and have them work together towards a common goal is an accomplishment. And when the teams that you dedicated so much time to finally succeed, you have to be in the moment to enjoy the accomplishment.

Knowing the resources on campus will also help you stay sane. There’s free tutoring for all students and a great variety of centers that can help with everything from getting involved with community service to helping students who have sprained their ankle and have a “roller” so they have to figure a new way around campus. Another often overlooked resource on campus is the professors. Whether you’ll want to get involved with research or need some help with class, professors are always available. They have office hours at which you can reach them and a majority of them are willing to help students who need further guidance or review of the materials.

In order to stay sane, I also encourage you to take an occasional walk at night. Not only is it beautiful, it is an escape of the fast paced, demanding world that continuously surrounds us. Our brains need time to wander and it is actually proven that people who regularly take short walks in nature, such as parks or the UK arboretum, are actually more mindful that others. So taking time out of your day to not think about anything specific can help you focus more in the future. Make sure you think about what you want to get involved in once you get to college- just make sure to include seeing campus from a different perspective. 

Daniella is a sophomore studying Agricultural Economics.  She is from Washington Court House, Ohio.  

March Madness: student advice on coping with midterms & more

The calendar has turned another page. It’s March! March is a time to take a well earned break from our studies (preferably somewhere warm) or just sit around and hopefully see our team cut down nets in New Orleans. But, it isn’t all fun and games. There is one major obstacle in our way: midterms! While they’re only a minor roadblock, they are not always easy to prepare for.

               One of my favorite spots is the academic support offered through The Study. Located on the 3^rd floor of the Commons building, The Study offers help through Peer Mentoring and Individual Consultations. Peer Mentoring (a FREE service) is offered in most introductory classes.  Classes from trigonometry and college algebra all the way through Calculus II, General Chemistry, Physics, and several Social Sciences are all offered on a regular basis. All you have to do is walk in and swipe your UKID. Check out their webpage for a full listing of courses and to see what times the tutors for your subjects will be there.

                This same time of my freshman year I was really struggling with my Calculus II and General Chemistry II classes. The great thing about the Study is that their tutors have taken theses classes and gotten A’s in them. They know what they’re doing. The best part is the personal attention. The tutors get to know you and help you with your specific weaknesses. They also get to know your name. It may not seem like much, but just having someone know your name makes a big difference. I frequently see one of my calc tutors, Steve. It’s been 2 years now, but he still knows my name.

                There is also a plethora of other ways to get study help. There is free help from the MathSkeller, They offer help in most math classes. It is located in the basement of White Hall. Then there is the Chemistry Help Center. They are located in the basement of the Chemistry Physics building.

If you can’t find time to make it to these campus services or need more help, there’s also private tutoring. One great thing I discovered is a little thing called office hours. My freshman year, I struggled to actually go to office hours. Professors were just really intimidating. They seemed like they didn’t have time to help me, a student. Luckily, I decided to break that barrier.  I walked into my professor’s office and discovered she was actually very personable. She sat down with me and walked me through several problems and made sure I understood what I was doing. It was a welcomed surprise.

 If professors aren’t available to help you, they most likely either know of someone who can tutor you or they have a list of people who are willing to offer help. I used one of these when I took Organic Chemistry. While it does cost more, they also will work around your schedule. We met in Willy T in a study room and worked through my homework. He answered my questions better than the book could and I really understood the material afterwards.

From start to finish, college isn’t a cake walk. We have to buckle down occasionally in order to get our relaxation time. Midterms can really be a scary time. Luckily, we don’t have to imAGine that 4.0. If we utilize our campus resources, we can all SeeBlue.

 Just for fun, check out The Study's UK Bucket List!

Zeb is a junior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Biosystems Engineering.  He is from Pineville, Kentucky.  He is a Resident Adviser in Kirwan Tower, a COA Agriculture Ambassador, and in the BAE Student Branch.