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.  

Internships: That Extra Push

Internships. This word can bring many emotions:  excitement, uncertainness, and anxiety. 

With today’s job market becoming more and more competitive, having an internship on your resume can give you the extra push you may need to land that dream job.  Some people also get the benefit of working for the company they interned with. The best way to start looking for internships is to attend a career fair, just like the one coming up this month at Good Barn. (Note: The UK Ag Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 23 from 12 Noon- 4 PM at the E.S. Good Barn.)  Companies come prepared to look for possible interns when they visit college campuses and the representatives are great sources of information. Not only can they tell you about the company, but they can also tell you how they themselves got their current jobs. 

The next place to look is your inbox. The Office of Academic Programs and Advising Resource Center send out numerous emails about companies looking for interns, extension opportunities, and job openings. The UK Career Center also sends out notices.  Some days, I see these emails and they head straight for the trash! (Which I’m sure most of us have been guilty of doing) So, on my search for internships for this upcoming summer, I have been paying more attention to my inbox. Want to get a lot of different intern options? Your advisor and professors are another great resource! They have made connections not only while they were job searching, but also while they have been working for the University! 

Now that you have all of these different intern options, it is time to narrow your search. My personal goal is to have my top internships picked out by Thanksgiving and I will apply to them by Christmas, but you can apply all throughout the spring semester too! Just make sure you know the deadlines to your top picks.  

 I have a few main things I look for while searching for internships. This first is the job type. I would love to do public relations or marketing for an agriculture company. I really enjoy working with people and would love the opportunity to work with producers across the state or country. The second thing I look for is location. I would like to either work for a company within the state of Kentucky or work out West. Getting to explore the area and learn about the people would be half the fun! What company I will be working for is another selling point. I would like to work for John Deere, Monsanto, or Syngenta, but my options are always open. Lastly, I look at whether or not it is paid. Yes, this is point some students forget until they have already gone through the application process. If you are looking for your internship to also be your summer job, make sure you read the fine print. 

Remember to breathe and don’t forget that everyone in the College of Agriculture is here to help you on your search to find an internship you will love! 

 Kellie is studying Agricultural Economics.  She is from Hodgensville, KY.  She is involved in UK Ag Student Council, Agribusiness Club, and is an Ag Ambassador.