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Show FINDING OV E R _ANA'S FRIENDS 10 PRO TIPS t seems like every college student dreads finals — and for good reason. It's a time of very few (if any) hours of sleep, a diet consisting of Red Bull and coffee and not much time for the ideal social life (i.e. the library feels like your best friend). Temptation and sorrow skyrocket when all of your friends who are not in college — or who are finished with finals — are inviting you to movies and parties and out for ice cream. Yet you're forced to decline and trudge on through your end-of-the-semester zombie existence. But this infamous and recurring time period in college students' academic careers is memorable for a reason, and they talk about it for years after they graduate. And believe it or not, when people talk about their experiences with finals in college, it's often with laughs and smiles on their faces. There's something rather beautiful about going through difficult things with other people — in this case, finals week with other university students. When everyone is going through the same thing, it creates a unity among students and even faculty that people outside campus can't really relate to. For a few weeks everyone seems to have each other's backs, no matter what, and there's a noticeable desire to help others succeed that doesn't exist at such a high level throughout the school year. Upperclassmen and professors who have been around for some time rescue freshman by providing tips and reassurance, remembering just how anxious and terrified they were for their first set of finals. I remember how overwhelmed I felt when I experienced finals for the first time, and I am so thankful to have had so much support on campus, between students, professors and advisors to help me through it. And throughout the whole experience, when you're at the library for days on end, the strangers you encounter can become great friends. There is a commonality between you that creates an instant bond — finals generate a level and type of suffering that very few can relate to. When all is said and done, finals leave students with one of the most amusingly relatable times a young person can have. I mean, who doesn't love the pins and tweets that come out of finals week? They're hilarious beyond measure and only because they're so relatable. It's easy to get caught up in the intensity and seriousness of finals, so pins, tweets, memes and Facebook posts are all good ways to get a laugh in as a short study break and ease some pressure while remembering that you're not the only one going through hellish times. While finals certainly don't compare to some other bonding experiences, like, say, military combat, there is still something to be said for going through such a stressful period of time with others. Finals are a staple of college, and without this grueling time period, college wouldn't be college. Finals create memories that every graduate should walk away with. And they're memories that only a genuine college experience can produce. So appreciate and enjoy them, Utes! letters@chronicle.utah.edu FEEL ALIVE; GO OUTSIDE ver get into that deep semester funk? The one where you seem to be endlessly busy yet gaining no traction on your workload? Countless trips to the library, TRAX commutes and late nights spent exchanging spare change in the car for access to a coffee shop's wifi can really take it out of you. The most effective counter to the bust-and-bust cycle of student life I've found is to schedule in some time to play outside. It may sound odd, but Outdoors Deficit Disorder is totally a thing. Going outside is an integral part of better functioning. An article in The Guardian, drawing on studies from the University of Essex and the American Medical Association, states, "Free and unstructured play in the outdoors boosts problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Socially, it improves cooperation, flexibility and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include reduced aggression and increased happiness." A 2010 study published in The Journal of E Environmental Psychology found that "being outdoors was associated with greater vitality, a relation that was mediated by the presence of natural elements." Connection to the natural world is positively correlated in these and other studies with positive mental health benefits. Luckily for U students, Utah is the ultimate outdoors playground. There are eight world-class ski resorts within an hour's drive, biking and hiking trails that connect campus to the Wasatch mountains and dozens of state and national parks within a few hours' drive. Green space at city parks, community garden plots and thriving local fishing, climbing and running communities are easily accessible avenues to get outdoors. The Parks, Recreation and Tourism program at the U even offers a comprehensive series of for-credit outdoors classes. It may sound counter-productive to those with the workaholic inclination, but surviving school takes some non-productive decompression time. It's about more than just getting your daily dose of Vitamin D: connecting with the natural world can help you feel less like a cog in a machine and more like a living, breathing, original entity. It's also worth noting that your 20s are your peak athletic years. It's only 10 { THECHRONY I NEWS I OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS I WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 } going to get more physically difficult to learn new sports and strive for new athletic achievements; use this knowledge as motivation to justify fixing up that mountain bike over buying a new video game console. I have taken some memorable classes during college, but nothing comes close to being as personally important as some of my favorite summit attempts, backcountry ski descents or bouldering trips. Looking back on my undergraduate career, the memories that matter most correlate to hiking boots melted in front of Uinta fire pits, Alta passes, slacklines, surfboards and telemark boots. Going outside can be something to live for, an important counter to doing things to survive. The hectic life of being a full-time student and working bad jobs (with worse hours) can take its toll on anyone. The important thing is to remember that it's all being done with quality of life as the ostensible end goal. Don't sacrifice your well-being now to intermediate steps to achieving greater well-being in the future. Both during this finals season and your future collegiate endeavors, choose to live connected to the natural world. I guarantee it will be worth it. letters@chronicle.utah.edu t's finals time! If you've spent more time skiing in the mountains or in your dorm watching Netflix than you have in class this semester, you might not be feeling very well at the moment. Lucky for you, we've compiled the ultimate guide to succeeding during finals week. Use any combination of the tips listed below to ensure a successful end to your semester. FOR SLAYING YOUR FINALS JUSTIN ADAMS 1 It is important to curry favor with the Finals Gods, and they demand sacrifice. No, not studying. Actual sacrifice. As in, you need to make an altar out of your semester's textbooks, upon which you must sacrifice some animal known for its intelligence. Dogs, chimps and dolphins work great. SATIRE We only use all-natural, fresh ingredients in 2 Show your appreciation to your professor for their work this semester by buying them a bottle of fine wine. Give it to them when you turn in your final with a note saying, "Here's something to help you get through the burden of grading all these finals." (Full disclosure: This might actually backfire. Use caution.) 3 It's important to hype yourself up before taking your final. Stand in the hallway outside your classroom and listen to "Eye of the Tiger." Or proclaim loudly to the world that you are a champion. Speaking of animals, find out what your professor's favorite animal is. Then draw an adorable cartoon of said animal on your test to endear yourself to them and give you those few extra points. Whenever you encounter a multiple choice question to which you do not know the answer, just put C. FREEB!RDS our burritos, nachos, salads, quesadillas, bowls and tacos - made in our kitchen, daily. KIMBALL JUNCTION TAYLORSVILLE SAN WEST VALLEY CITY SALT LAKE CITY WE CATER FROM 10 TO 10,000 801.553.2397 FREEBIRDSCATERING.UT@GMAIL.00 FREEBIRDS.COM 13 0 Every time. 4 If your final is all free-response essays, the secret is to write in handwriting that is on the verge of being illegible. If you write long enough in bad enough penmanship, your professor will decide it's more trouble than it's worth to decipher and just give you the B you really want. Using a neon-colored pen can achieve the same results. 5 They say interactive learning is the best kind of learning. So instead of just reviewing your notes, turn them into some awesome rock lyrics and form a band to perform them. That will be a lot more memorable than your regular studying routine. 8 Before you turn in your final, spray it with some sexy perfume to set it apart from your classmates' finals that only smell like boring old paper. In order to disguise your lack of knowledge, use big words, inverted syntax and run-on sentences. It's only important that you give the appearance of having an original thought. 10 If all else fails, drink a lot of water before going in and then pee your pants during the final. Your professor will give you an A out of pity. 10% OFF WITH VALID U OF U OR SLCC I letters@chronicle.utah.edu 11 |