Meredith herald
Volume XI, Issue 14
December?, 1994
Raleigh, North Carolina
End of semester brings added stress to campus
by Kimberiy Zucker
A few common attributes have
taken over students at Meredith; red
eyes, sleepy faces and bad moods. All
of these are due to one word — stress.
Finals are coming, the semester is
ending, and it is the time to cram. Each
student is waiting impatiently for the
stress of exams and the semester to
end.
While we cannotavoidtaking these
finals, there are certain things that we
can do to help to ease all this stress.
The first step is realizing that we
are suffering from stress. Some signs
to look for are eye pain, fingernail
biting, pale skin, agitation, irritably and
weakness. Once we realize the signs,
Beth Meiers in the counseling center
gave some advice for stress sufferers.
She believes that it is always helpful to
find someone to talk to when extremely
stressed. The counseling center is
open every day from 8 a.m. until 5
p.m., and she said she would be happy
to make appointments at night.
If studying is too hard to do in the
dorms, there is a get away place in the
counseling center filled with comfort- start off is writing down all that must be
able chairs and couches. accomplished for the day and mark off
Meiers also gave several brochures each item as soon as it is completed
photo by Laura Ross
Lately, students spend their hours hitting the books instead of hitting the town. Today
is the last day of classes, but the stress has only just begun to increase.
on test anxiety, overcoming procrasti
nation, and stress man^ement.
There are a lot of little things that
can be done each day to avoid stress.
Meiers believes that good organiza
tion is the key. She said a good way to
which will give a feeling of accom
plishment.
“A big problem is students worry
to much about what they haven’t got
ten done. Instead they should reflect
on what they have accomplished and
be proud of themselves,” Meiers said
She said a huge part of relieving
stress is staying around positive people
and trying to keep a positive attitude as
well.
Another problem Meiers cited is
that we neglect ourselves. Usually
during exams we do not eat well or get
enough sleep, but a balanced diet and
a good night’s rest will help to keep
our spirits up during our most stressful
times, she recommended.
Another thing students tend to ne
glect is a little time for fun, she said.
Taking brisk walks, eating dinner with
our friends, or watching television for
15 minutes can be used as rewards, she
said. Students often put too much
pressure on themselves, and do not
reward themselves for what they do
accomplish, she said.
With exams rapidly approaching,
students should remember to take
STRESS
see page seven
aorms, mere is a get away piace m me tion is the key. She said a good way to on what they have accomphshed and -
Keeping the peace is the real test during exams
by Ashley Peay _ . ,
^ ^ •.*. 1 TStitA o r»/l *1 Viol f IJ/o
With exams right around the cor
ner, most college students are just about
ready to kill someone. The most sen
sible and
convenient
choice is
usuallyyour
roommate.
When
you live
with some
one ina9’x
14' box for
almost four
months,
you think
that you
pretty much have one another figured
out until exams roll around, and you
then realize that you are not quite as
close as you thought. Silence fills a lot
of rooms as best friends stop speaking
to one another. How do roommates
Holly and Ashley stick together through the good times
and the bad times (even throughexams).
cope with this stress without being
charged for murder in the end?
My roommate. Holly, and I met at
an Open Day at Meredith our senior
yearofhigh
school, and
within five
minutes
(without
having
even been
accepted
yet), we
suggested
living to
gether dur
ing the up-
coming
year. We exchanged addresses and
corresponded throughout the next
year, but did not see each other again
until moving day.
Throughout the first semester we
lived together, but not very closely.
Before we knew it, exams were here
and the semester was coming to a close.
Our first college exam was Biology.
The first procrastination strategy (you
all know exactly what 1 ’m referring to)
was to rearrange our furniture. Once
we had agreed on where to place the
computer (this was about 2 a.m.), it
was time for a Waffle House run. By
3:30 a.m., we were seated across from
each other at our desk and calling out
old tests. (In order to do well though, I
would not recommend that you try this
strategy.) The next hour rolled around,
the tests were memorized (and I stress
the word "memorized”), and it was
time for bed. For some reason (I have
no idea why), I have a hard time re
membering how well either of us did
on this exam, or how well we did in the
class for that matter, but I can honestly
say that I will never forget our time
spent together throughout that entire
week.
Two and a half years later, Holly
and 1 are still together, and, yes, it’s
that wonderful time again. About a
month ago. Holly looked at me and
said, “Ican’twaitforexamweek, that’s
my favorite time because we don’t do
anything.” 1 don’t want everyone to
thhik that Holly andl really don’t study,
but as I thought about her statement, I
realized that these two weeks prob
ably are my favorite also. We definitely
learned from our fresliman experi
ence that if we don’t do extremely well
on exams that the sun will rise in the
morning and that we will still be best
friends. So, freshmen (and upper
classmen as well), take our advice and
don’t let stress get in the way of some
thing that will be around long after
examgradeshavebeentumedin. Take
tirne to study, but more importantly,
make time for each oth er and for memo
ries that wiU last a lifetime.