I am writing this letter to inform students about some of study tips that have really worked for me and my friends, and I feel it might work for everyone else too!

1. Energy drinks such as Red Bull and coffee are never a good idea right before the exam! If you have stayed up all night with the help of caffeine, chances are that you will feel lousy during the exam!

2. If you are the kind of person who does not usually study late nights then do not use this strategy for exams! Study during the day, sleep at night; you will feel much fresher and prepared during exam.

3. Overcrowded library is an awful place to study for exams! There is a lot of whispering and talking people that can distract you. Try going to a quiet park; there will be no noise and no internet to distract you from your books/notes.

4. Drinking water and having your window open really helps! Water is a great source of oxygen, and oxygen is needed for proper brain functioning and keeping you awake. Having your window open to let some fresh air adds to that!

5. Meditate and have fun! Meditation helps with concentration, which every student needs! And finally, to balance out the stress, go out and have a little fun.

These tips have really helped me get through tough exam times!

I hope everyone’s exams and assignment go great! HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all!

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,

Pratima Shukla

Dear Editor, 

I am writing in response to Carleigh Cathcart’s article published in last week’s edition ‘A five-point plan to avoiding exam stress.’ Being a first year University Student and experiencing the intense stressors of exams first hand, there is one correction as well as some additional information which I think are appropriate points that should be added.

Firstly, under “Tip #3: Work with your peers,” the author presents advice on working with peers to reduce stress and gain both confidence and understanding. Pulling an example from her personal life, the author states that although it is beneficial to live in a cluster, problem solving with a group of people that are studying completely different majors is also beneficial because it “actually broadens the possibilities of working together to solve difficult problems.” Now, I am not sure if the author meant to word it in this way, however this is a very bad suggestion to give readers as it is not a practical use of time to problem solve major questions that they would have in Psychology with floor mates studying Geography and Physics, for example. In my experience, stressors before exams arise due to a combination of being unprepared and not having a strong understanding of the subject matter. Spending time getting a Physics major help with the Biological reason for why depression is primarily dominant in women and not men is not a good use of said persons study time, and will absolutely not be helpful in decreasing stress – if anything it will increase it.

Secondly, under “Tip 5: Take care of yourself,” the author neglected to mention the importance of physical activity, nor taking time to get fresh air. She touches on good eating habits, keeping hydrated and having enough sleep – all important factors in a healthy lifestyle; however, physical activity and being outdoors is also very important. Studies show maintaining an active body has been linked to having an active mind. It is also said that the more consistently you work out, the more likely it is for you to be able to keep concentration and apply yourself. Exercise is also a time for reflection, it allows for your subconscious mind to problem solve in a relaxed manner away from all the pressures of your daily routine. All of this being said, I conclude that the addition of physical activity as well as getting fresh air is also important when taking care of one self during stressful times.

Theresa Martin

We wanted to take a moment to thank Brenda Whiteside, the University’s associate vice-president of student affairs, for listening to the concerns we have brought forward and taking action. After we brought forward the frustration students were feeling with a lack of study space on campus, Brenda took it upon herself to help create more space for upcoming exam period. Thank you Brenda. We would also like to thank our undergraduate members for participating in our student space campaign and making their space needs known.

Often times we get so wrapped up in the challenges that students face that we forget how lucky we are to go to a University that has such a strong student focus, where we know that we can raise concerns and they will be heard.

At the same time, we understand that this is only a temporary fix. Students have been telling us that they need more interdisciplinary study space, lounge space and student controlled space on campus. We hope to work with the University to meet these needs with permanent solutions. We will continue to be the voice for the concerns of students and we look forward to working with people like Brenda to help find solutions to help the University of Guelph to become better and better.

Below are the spaces that will now be available for students to study in during exams:

Peter Clark Hall, University Centre

Available beginning noon on Sunday December 4 until Friday December 9 at 6:00 p.m. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to midnight.

Science Complex Atrium

Every day from Friday December 2 to Thursday December 15 from 8:30 a.m. until midnight. Use the McNaughton door by the Bookstore for access during the weekends.

Creelman Hall

Hours have been extended until midnight beginning Sunday December 4 until Wednesday December 14.

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