Stu(dying)

Did anyone ever notice that the word STUDYING has the word DYING in it??

ATTENTION: Finals are occurring right now, if you didn’t know that already… However, if anyone is friends with a college student on Facebook or Twitter, I am guessing you have seen the many dramatic posts about this week from hell.

Here are a few of my favorite posts via Facebook:

“soooooooooooo this is what it feels like to be dead. #finals”

“Studying will be the death of me.”

“Can't...study...any....longer....Need...sleep...now.....”

Today in the car, my best friend/roommate Amalia made an interesting observation. If everyone didn’t post about how stressed they were, how much studying they’ve done, how many tests they have, and how tired they are, would “Finals Week” really be that bad?

This got me thinking… Are a couple of tests in one week really comparable to death OR do college students have so much freedom that when some of that freedom must be dedicated to intense studying, we freak out and over dramatize how tough our lives are?

This is my third time to experience finals (fall, spring, now fall again) and I would like to share some tips and advice that would be helpful to people for next semester.

1)   Get off Facebook/Twitter/Pintrest/AIM… anything that has nothing to do with your school work. Instead of posting that you are studying at the library or tweeting that you are pulling an all-nighter, turn off your phone and just DO IT. Every college student is going through the same thing, so there is no need to post about it.

2) Make flash cards! I would put my LIFE on flash cards. Repetition is a great way to retain large amounts of information. NOTE: Do not make flashcards the night before the test… make them a week prior to your exam

3)   Find a good place to study, with a good group of people. Let’s be honest, I am a sorority girl who could talk to a wall for hours and not think twice about it. I am very chatty and sociable, but when it comes to studying, it is important to set aside time to focus on schoolwork in a place that will not cause distractions. That’s why the library is the best place for me.

4)   Last, but most importantly, manage your time. I know that’s cliché and everyone will tell you that, but it is true. I have made it through 3 semesters without having to pull an “all-nighter.” It is possible to be in bed at a decent hour… IF you manage your time. Think about it: If you are in 15 credit hours, that means you go to school 15 hours a week. In high school you went to school 35 hours a week! Realize how much free time you have and make a plan to study earlier.

If you do all of these things above and improve your study habits, it WILL help you become a better student. Good luck to everyone in finishing up finals!!

TF