You've probably heard of "Hell Weeks" already. And odds are, this week is your first one. It's the first round of tests, people. Hope you're ready.
If you're smart, you spent some time last week and this past weekend reviewing already. If you haven't, shut off your computer and hit those books. Tests come in packs and its never pretty.
Fortunately, these weeks are survivable, and it is possible to do well. Make sure you're balancing your time studying. I tend to do two hour blocks (you know, two hours of bio, two of history, two of physics, and so on). Also, give yourself breaks in between each block. Fifteen minutes or so to run and get a soda from DX or to check your e-mail, whatever you need to do to unwind a little before the next block. Give yourself some breaks after each test too, an hour or so just to de-stress.
Don't stay up too late. Sleep helps your memory, so be sure you're getting your eight hours or whatever you normally need to feel well rested. Obviously, make sure you're eating well. Apparently breakfast really is brain food.
Good luck on your tests!
Lastly, this is a matter of personal preference, but I think it's a good idea to not study for two hours before the exam. In my experience, last minute cramming only increases your stress and makes it more likely for you to forget things.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
JRs and Staying Healthy
Hopefully your semesters are all going well...mine's been busy so I'm condensing entries while I have time to write them. I'll start with the "bad" things first.
Judicial Referrals
Hopefully you haven't gotten a judicial referral (JR) yet, but maybe you know someone who has. Or you have. Anyway.
For starters, the JR itself does not mean you're in trouble. It's documentation of a potential violation.
If you receive one, you will have a hearing before Judicial Affairs (their office is on the first floor of Dietrick; you may have passed it on your way to D2) to determine if a violation occurred.
That being said, the JRs I was most aware of when I lived on campus were mostly noise violations (sound should not be heard outside your room from 10 PM to 10 AM, and the residence halls have 24/7 courtesy quiet hours, during which if someone asks you to turn down your music/TV or close the door, you do so), and alcohol violations.
The RA is not out to get you, I promise. Sometimes it may seem that way, and there are some RAs who appear to be JR happy. But it's like everything else: people have varying amounts of tolerance. If you're drunk and in the hall (not that you should be, ever), the RA isn't going to care unless you're creating a disturbance. Just be smart and remember that you're not the only person who lives there.
Staying Healthy
Everyone's heard of the dreaded Freshman Fifteen, and with Virginia Tech being at the top of the nation for food services, it seems likely to occur.
Well, that doesn't have to be true. For starters, it's usually more of a "Freshman Five" (if any), although there are the people who gain fifteen and then some. But it's easily avoidable.
Be sure you're eating a varied diet, like you did at home. Don't have West End's London broil with mashed potatoes and corn bread every night (that will put a hurting on your dining plan as well). I don't care how good it is. I'm not saying you have to eat salad all the time (heck, I hate salad and never eat it), but be sure you're mixing it up. Have spaghetti one night and then get a wrap the next time. Make sure to throw in the right amounts of every food group. Keep in mind that things like tomato sauce and peppers on your pizza count in the fruit and veggie categories.
Exercise is important as well. You don't have to be a gym rat or go running every day. Just make sure you're not constantly sitting on your butt in front of the TV or your laptop. Go for a walk out to the duck pond with a friend. Take the stairs instead of immediately running to the elevator (yes, even you hi-risers in Slusher, AJ, Lee, Pritchard, and O'Shag...taking the stairs at least once a day won't kill you). Speed walk to class. Play basketball out on the Prairie or volleyball at Slusher Beach. There are lots of little ways to work exercise into your life.
Everyone gets sick at some point. It's inevitable. The best way to prevent it is something you've known since the preschool days of coloring and naptime: wash your hands. Before you eat, after you eat, after you go to the bathroom. Carry a little bottle of Purell around if you happen to be in one of the buildings with the weird grainy powder soap (not exactly sure how that is supposed to clean, but it's in half the buildings on the academic side of campus).
If you feel like you're getting sick, strike pre-emptively. Get more sleep (even if it means not going out Friday night--there will be more weekends; it's your first year after all), drink some OJ and hot liquids, take some cold medicine if you have to. Need cold medicine or cough syrup? Schiffert has a self-treatment clinic right in the lobby. You take a little form, fill out your symptoms, they'll give you about two day's worth of what you need. If it's something worse, get an appointment to be seen by a doctor.
As you may have guessed, dorms are like a playground for disease. Case in point: strep went through my freshman dorm like wildfire, and conveniently, this happened right before finals, so everyone felt awful and we were all trying to stay awake to study. If your roommate gets sick, or even someone near you, avoid them as much as you can. It's not rude, you're trying to stay healthy. And hit up CVS the next time you're at the Math Empo for some Airborne. Buy the afflicted a can of chicken soup (or whatever they prefer) as a peace offering.
And get a few cans for yourself, just in case. From November to February, it becomes near impossible to find anywhere in Blacksburg. As soon as the poor kids at Kroger and Food Lion stock them, the cans fly off the shelves.
Judicial Referrals
Hopefully you haven't gotten a judicial referral (JR) yet, but maybe you know someone who has. Or you have. Anyway.
For starters, the JR itself does not mean you're in trouble. It's documentation of a potential violation.
If you receive one, you will have a hearing before Judicial Affairs (their office is on the first floor of Dietrick; you may have passed it on your way to D2) to determine if a violation occurred.
That being said, the JRs I was most aware of when I lived on campus were mostly noise violations (sound should not be heard outside your room from 10 PM to 10 AM, and the residence halls have 24/7 courtesy quiet hours, during which if someone asks you to turn down your music/TV or close the door, you do so), and alcohol violations.
The RA is not out to get you, I promise. Sometimes it may seem that way, and there are some RAs who appear to be JR happy. But it's like everything else: people have varying amounts of tolerance. If you're drunk and in the hall (not that you should be, ever), the RA isn't going to care unless you're creating a disturbance. Just be smart and remember that you're not the only person who lives there.
Staying Healthy
Everyone's heard of the dreaded Freshman Fifteen, and with Virginia Tech being at the top of the nation for food services, it seems likely to occur.
Well, that doesn't have to be true. For starters, it's usually more of a "Freshman Five" (if any), although there are the people who gain fifteen and then some. But it's easily avoidable.
Be sure you're eating a varied diet, like you did at home. Don't have West End's London broil with mashed potatoes and corn bread every night (that will put a hurting on your dining plan as well). I don't care how good it is. I'm not saying you have to eat salad all the time (heck, I hate salad and never eat it), but be sure you're mixing it up. Have spaghetti one night and then get a wrap the next time. Make sure to throw in the right amounts of every food group. Keep in mind that things like tomato sauce and peppers on your pizza count in the fruit and veggie categories.
Exercise is important as well. You don't have to be a gym rat or go running every day. Just make sure you're not constantly sitting on your butt in front of the TV or your laptop. Go for a walk out to the duck pond with a friend. Take the stairs instead of immediately running to the elevator (yes, even you hi-risers in Slusher, AJ, Lee, Pritchard, and O'Shag...taking the stairs at least once a day won't kill you). Speed walk to class. Play basketball out on the Prairie or volleyball at Slusher Beach. There are lots of little ways to work exercise into your life.
Everyone gets sick at some point. It's inevitable. The best way to prevent it is something you've known since the preschool days of coloring and naptime: wash your hands. Before you eat, after you eat, after you go to the bathroom. Carry a little bottle of Purell around if you happen to be in one of the buildings with the weird grainy powder soap (not exactly sure how that is supposed to clean, but it's in half the buildings on the academic side of campus).
If you feel like you're getting sick, strike pre-emptively. Get more sleep (even if it means not going out Friday night--there will be more weekends; it's your first year after all), drink some OJ and hot liquids, take some cold medicine if you have to. Need cold medicine or cough syrup? Schiffert has a self-treatment clinic right in the lobby. You take a little form, fill out your symptoms, they'll give you about two day's worth of what you need. If it's something worse, get an appointment to be seen by a doctor.
As you may have guessed, dorms are like a playground for disease. Case in point: strep went through my freshman dorm like wildfire, and conveniently, this happened right before finals, so everyone felt awful and we were all trying to stay awake to study. If your roommate gets sick, or even someone near you, avoid them as much as you can. It's not rude, you're trying to stay healthy. And hit up CVS the next time you're at the Math Empo for some Airborne. Buy the afflicted a can of chicken soup (or whatever they prefer) as a peace offering.
And get a few cans for yourself, just in case. From November to February, it becomes near impossible to find anywhere in Blacksburg. As soon as the poor kids at Kroger and Food Lion stock them, the cans fly off the shelves.
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