Show Combating stress finals week during k F I 1 A 1 Chris Jenkins Contributing Writer As the Fall 2005 semester end students stu- stu students students stu stu- nears its many dents are arc scrambling to keep up with the increased pace that inevitably accompanies the end of each semester Many students stu- stu students students stu stu- dents have final papers due last minute assignments to finish and perhaps some extra credit to complete for a final grade boost Regardless most students will agree that the end of the semester semester semester semes semes- ter can be stressful I am so stressing because this is my first semester in college college college col col- lege and I cant can't believe how much work I have to do Im I'm taking three days off work so I Ican Ican Ican can do homework and study for finals said student Jennifer Cox For most students just mentioning mentioning mentioning men men- the word Finals is enough to elevate their level of stress Every semester students have to prepare for the final few weeks of the semester which can be critical in determining whether a student will receive a high or a low grade or even the difference between passing and failing The stress caused by finals week is not always a bad thing A small amount of stress can motivate students to take more initiative dur during ng this critical time of the semester I Students do more studying during the last one or two weeks of the semester semester semester semes semes- ter than I during any other time during the semester studied It seems like Ive I've more this week than I did during the whole semester Ive I've been up till 2 or 3 am a.m. every night Finals arent aren't until next week and Im I'm already feeling burnt out said Rick Norman a student of A small amount of stress managed correctly can spur students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents positively by motivating them to complete assignments and study for Finals but too much stress can have a very negative effect on students Students with elevated levels of stress can experience multiple multiple multiple multi multi- symptoms that can interfere with their lives and school WUll work emotionally emotional emotional- Stress effects people ly behaviorally and even cally Students with too much stress can have feelings of impatience or frustration They can start to feel helpless or depressed and have feelings of low self esteem These students can become very moody and have trouble con con- Stress can manifest itself physically in different ways Students may begin to experience experience ence headaches fatigue or high blood pressure They can also experience dizziness forgetfulness forgetful- forgetful ness or confusion In order to survive finals students stu- stu students students stu stu- dents need to find ways to deal with the stress associated with the end of the semester A few students of share their ideas for managing stress I try to make a list of everything everything everything every every- thing I need to do for finals That way I know I am not forgetting forgetting forgetting for for- getting anything and I know what I have left to do It always feels good to cross something else off my list said Jessica between classes at Time management is essential to managing stress Having a checklist is great because youcan you youcan youcan can mark your progress as you eliminate your sources of stress It is also good to prioritize your list so that you accomplish what is most important first If I 1 start to get too stressed out I try to take a break and do something fun for awhile Ill I'll usually play video games for an hour or so before doing more homework said Chris Webster When students get too stressed out it becomes more difficult to be productive It is better to take a break for awhile and relax so that students can be bemore bemore bemore more focused while they are studying Different people react to stress in different ways Something that helps one student student student stu stu- stu- stu dent may not work for another Students need to learn what helps them to relax and find the best way to manage their own stress Students who are having trouble trouble trouble trou trou- ble dealing with the stress of finals should not give up hope The semester is almost over and summer is nearly here Once finals are over a students student's only stress could be planning a holiday holiday holiday holi holi- day vacation |