Dealing With End of Semester Stress

As the end of the semester closes in on us and finals rapidly approach, stress levels start to hit an all time high. As a sophomore, I’ve learned some things about dealing with the large workload that comes with the end of semester. My main tip for freshman is to not put everything off until the last second. I know you’ve probably heard this a billion times, but spacing out your workload out can really help reduce stress. I’ve heard people say before that they work best under pressure and that procrastination actually helps them create better work. I don’t know if I really buy this but if you have a method that works, then stick with it. Personally I like to make sure that I don’t have to cram in all of my work at the very end of finals week. Putting off your work can result in lack of sleep which negatively effects memory, concentration and overall health. While some people function better without sleep than others, sleep is still a necessity especially during finals week. I have a friend who can function very well on about three hours of sleep while I on the other hand, wouldn’t even be able to make it out of bed with that little sleep. In order for me to do well in school, I require lots of sleep. I also tend to crack under pressure and do my best work when I know I have plenty of time to do it.

One example of this is that I have an Anthropology paper due on the 13th for my final exam. It comprises a large percentage of my grade and takes a lot of research and extra work before I can even sit down to write the paper. Knowing this, I’ve already come up with all of the evidence and sources I need to write my paper as well as written my outline so that I can begin writing it soon and have it perfected by the time its due. 

While some may think that procrastination and lack of sleep help them to to complete their work, I disagree and and say that completing your work in a timely manner and getting enough sleep is the way to go during finals week. Sure, when you go home for break you’ll be able to sleep all you want but sacrificing the quality of your work and your health isn’t worth it in my opinion. Burning out and having an emotional breakdown towards the end of finals week may seem like a “normal” thing for college students to deal with, but by being smart, you can prevent it. 

Sports Opportunities At Drew

As the end of the first academic semester is nearing, so has the end of a very successful field hockey season. We finished with a 12-8 record overall, making it to both the Landmark Conference championship game and the ECAC tournament. Being a part of an athletic team was an important aspect considered in my decision to attend Drew, and it has certainly has become a key part of my life. 

         It is not only the daily exercise and love of the game that I enjoy, but also the team chemistry and camaraderie experienced every day as you grow as a team. The ability to learn on and off the field from my teammates and coaches has played a large role in my growth as a student-athlete. The problem solving skills, ability to work with others, and friendships made are valuable aspects obtained when joining a varsity team.  

         Although varsity athletics are a large part of the community here, they are not your only athletic option. If you want to participate, but don’t want as big of a commitment, there are a variety of options to choose from. The weight room and gym is always open to students looking to improve their strength or fitness. Similarly, there are fitness classes offered each semester as an alternative option for exercise. There are both intramural and club sports offered that vary from table tennis and dance classes, to basketball and flag football. All of these activities are available to any student who wants to exercise or be apart of a team or individual activity.

         Whether you are interested in playing varsity or intramural sports the experiences, learning opportunities, and friends you will encounter while participating in athletics can enhance your overall experience at Drew.

Class Registration Frustration

Registering for classes can be a somewhat stressful event for college students, but there are many ways you can prepare so you don’t have to fret too much.

First of all, make sure that you look through the all of the courses being offered on the Drew website and jot down some of the ones that you need to take or spark your interest before meeting with your advisor. Make sure you schedule your meeting with your advisor in advance so that you aren’t rushing to try to fit classes into your schedule at the last moment. Advisors are great because its their job to know what classes you should be taking. Before I meet with my advisor about signing up for classes I’m always a little bit flustered but afterwards I have a more clear understanding about what courses should be taking. After your meeting, play around with your schedule before choosing one that fits perfectly. If there are classes that you’re unsure of whether or not you’ll get into, always have a back-up class ready that you can register for instead. 

On the morning of registration, set your alarm early so that you’ll be fully awake by the time registration opens for your class. If you’re a heavy sleeper, set multiple alarms because you don’t want to be that kid who sleeps through registration and groans about it the rest of the day. 

Don’t worry too much if you didn’t get into a class that you really wanted to take because people always drop classes. Also some professors are more lenient than others so shooting them an email can never hurt. Good luck!

Change of Seasons and Lifestyle

As the cold weather arrives, and the leaves fall quickly from the trees, winter coats, scarves, and hats are replacing warmer weather clothing on campus. These seasonal changes remind me of my own transition and lifestyle change - from a high school environment to collegiate life. There are varieties of exciting changes a student can expect when they begin their new life at Drew University.

The most dramatic change is the opportunity to fashion many aspects of a new lifestyle. From the meeting of a new roommate to the decorating of a beautiful new dorm room, campus life allows you to mature as an adult and begin making your own choices based on your own preferences.  Choosing your classes, a potential major field of study, your daily meals and snacks (the variety of delicious and new food choices is endless), not to mention meeting hundreds of new people is both exhilarating and empowering.  Your daily schedule is yours to determine. Whether you are a getting a coffee between classes in Java City, or having dinner in Commons, there is always a place to find conversation and nourishment. You realize that you are truly in control of your own college experience.

While this is exciting, it is also daunting and most first year students have not covered this ground before.  Do not worry.  There are numerous resources at Drew to ease the transition.  The Resident Assistants living in the dorm with you, who serve as leaders to help your transition, are kind and helpful in directing you to anything you may need. The teachers are caring and approachable, and the class sizes are relatively small and engaging. Your faculty advisor is another source of guidance to help your transition from a high school classroom to a collegiate setting. Conversations with professors and advisers can be some of the most thought provoking and stimulating discussions a student can experience.

There is much more free time to explore new activities, clubs, or sports. I was delighted to get an opportunity to write for our school news paper, The Acorn, and to contribute to the blogs for Admissions.  Both activities were unplanned yet rewarding opportunities that I found once I arrived on campus.  The flip side, to more free time and the opportunity to pursue your particular interests, is the need to develop time management skills so that you can manage a college level curriculum. As you grow and experience new things, you will make new friends and be exposing yourself to a diverse student body and exchange of ideas and viewpoints.  I am constantly learning new things every day, in my classes, and through interaction with my peers and friends. There are many aspects of college life that differ from your high school experience but the personal growth and exciting change you will experience at Drew is something to look forward to!

Finding Your Place at Drew

Something that a lot of first-year students struggle with is finding their major. In my opinion, Drew is a really great place for finding your career path. When I started here, I had a clear idea of what I wanted to major in but by taking a variety or classes and gaining new experiences, I ended up changing my mind. 

One thing that really helped with this decision was having a great advisor. Coming into Drew as a freshman, I was almost positive that I would graduate with a degree in theater because theater had been something that I’d always loved as a hobby. My advisor strongly encouraged me to take a variety of different classes because she said I’d never know if there were other subjects that I might be passionate about but never get a chance to study because of my close-mindedness. I wearily took her advice and by the end of the year, I realized that by taking different types of classes, that theater was something I enjoyed only as hobby and might make a better minor for me. Through taking classes such as, Italian, Macroeconomics and Literary Analysis, I found a lot more about my academic strengths 

and weaknesses. 

Throughout high school I took French as my language elective. I took the language placement test and planned on taking French later on at Drew. After meeting with my advisor during my first week of classes at Drew, she told me to look at the majors and minors offered and list off which ones sparked my interest. I listed Italian as something that I would be interested in learning and decided to take Italian 101 during my first semester. I ended up really liking Italian and finding it easy to pick up because of my knowledge of French. I received A’s in both Italian 101 and 102 which gave me the opportunity to become an tutor in both subjects this year. By taking a class I hadn’t even planned on taking when first signing up for courses, I found something that I had an interest in and got an opportunity to use my skills to help other students. 

By this year, my sophomore year, I was much more adjusted to the lifestyle of college and much less overwhelmed by picking a major. One piece of advice I have for incoming freshman is to wait until sophomore year before declaring your major. While you may be 100% certain about your path in life, taking a variety of classes can open your mind to subjects you may not have even considered. It may also reassure you that what you chose as a major in the beginning is what you want to be doing, which is great too. The first year at a university can be pretty a pretty confusing and strange time, so make sure you try out a variety of things that spark your interest because you never know what it may lead to.