How to be an Engaged Student

In order to engage, you need to connect with the material you’re learning. It helps to enjoy the topic that you’re studying, but you can probably find a connection to something you love even in an uninteresting class. For example, if you like geography and are in a not-quite-engaging history class, you could try to focus on how geography influenced the history you’re studying. As you begin to link together the things you’re learning, ask questions and look for answers. Talk to your professors about these connections. It’s an incredibly engaging way to learn, but in the end, you’ll probably discover that you have a good grade to show for it as well. You'll perform much better if you play to your strengths rather than try to be good at everything.

-Micah

How to Destress

click for more tips 

Stress is a necessary but often overwhelming part of our everyday lives. What was once developed solely as a survival mechanism has taken on a new, dangerous, and self-tormenting role physically, mentally and emotionally. With the rigors of college, it is unavoidable; yet not unmanageable. Here are some tips to help. First, don’t over stress, and don’t allow your stress to multiply by what you are already stressed about. Stress triggers the “fight or flight” response that, while useful in situations that are life or death, now triggers an essentially useless immune response that, in fact, attacks whomever is stressing. Thus, over-stressing can have majorly negative implications for one’s health. Second, as stated above, is getting the proper amount of sleep to let your brain rest and re-energize for the coming day. Lastly, getting daily exercise, anywhere from moderate to vigorous, can be extremely beneficial to one’s health. It combats the commonly associated negative illnesses characteristic of stress overload, such as heart disease and diabetes, among others.

-Humbert

Beat the Freshman 15!

click for more info

Exercise in college is a good way to vent out stress and frustration.  In addition, living an active life also means living a healthy life. Therefore, exercise is crucial.  Being a college student makes it difficult to have time to work out any bodily parts except the brain.  However, when one works out, it actually gives them a boost of adrenaline and energy.  This is a good way to start out a stressful school day.  Research has shown that a balanced workout schedule actually enhances an individual’s concentration.  Therefore, it is a good commodity for one’s mental state.

-Tre

Healthy Eating

Many people think that because they're in college, they are limited to cafeteria food and fast food. However, with a little bit of effort, one can increase the variety in their diet. Some college campus food can be pretty healthy, but there are definitely also unhealthy options. Just because there are unhealthy options, does not mean you have to also eat unhealthy. Many schools offer shuttles to near by grocery stores so you can pick up nutritious snacks. Also, there are many tricks you can use in the cafeteria to make a healthy, but still delicious, meal!

This photo is something that every plate you eat at the cafeteria should emulate. Try to incorporate as many colors on your plate as possible. Eat lots of colorful veggies and fruit!

click on the photo for more health tips!

*Here's a tip for those of you who aren't so keen on veggies. Make a fruit smoothie and incorporate a handful of spinach! I swear you can't even taste it! Spinach is super rich in iron, vitamin K, and vitamin A. You can pick up a single serve blender at Target, Walmart, and many other stores. I recommend the Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender, it's compact so it'll fit in any dorm rooms and they come in a variety of colors!

click on the photo for more info on this model of blender

It is scientifically proven that vitamin rich food is beneficial for brain development. As college students, we are constantly learning and expending energy on our brain. To keep a balance life and sound mental health, we must keep our bodies in tip top shape with healthy eating. After all, you are what you eat.

-Ulri

How to Recover From a Bad Grade

click for video

Whether it’s a test you studied 3 weeks for or a paper you forgot to write until the night before, getting a bad grade can be very discouraging. How do you find your way back to normality? Here’s some advice from one student to another:

1. Before you enter heavy mourning, see if there’s anything you can do to make your grade. This may be a slim chance, but check the syllabus for extra credit opportunities, or talk to your professor. Working to improve your grade can improve your mood surprisingly much.
2. Try not to dwell on the grade too much. Maybe escape into a movie or game for a while, or do whatever you do to relax.
3. If you want to do better on the next test or assignment, just take a little time to think how you’re going to do things differently and actually PUT THEM TO ACTION.

This isn’t a magic formula, but it just might help make your bad-grade-receiving day a little bit better.

-Micah

General Study Tips

click on the photo for more tips

Amidst the tumult of life for a college freshman, studying can seem almost a small piece in a much larger, intricate puzzle. Whether it be meeting new people, trying ever-so-hard to avoid the dreaded “freshman 15,” or just simply getting acclimated to life in a new place, the school aspect of higher education can, oddly enough, seem secondary. Over my few months at Emory thus far, I feel I have a unique vantage point to advise current and incoming freshman on some ways to study smarter. First off, find a group of friends from class to tackle work in groups. This not only decreases your personal load, say for a project, but also allows you to talk out difficulties you’re having in class with your peers. They may be able to help explain challenging topics, as well as vice-versa; creating a mutually beneficial situation. Second, I would say before big tests or exams, try any practice questions you can find, either online on in your textbook. This tests your memorization, showing the facts you learned in a different form. It also gives you an idea of how the information will be presented to you on the real thing, letting you simultaneously familiarize yourself and be challenged by what you’ve studied. Third, and perhaps most important, is a nugget of wisdom I’ve taken directly from Health 101 this semester: get your sleep! Increased sleep correlates directly to increased academic performance.

-Humbert

Time Management, the Key to Success

Time management is a key component in the college experience.  This is important because it makes one’s life more organized and structured. Having an organized lifestyle makes things less stressful.  Methods to increase time management include making a schedule, making better use of every minute, and taking advantage of all the opportunities that they have in amount of time.  Better time management influences an individual’s mental health also.  When one manages their time well, it manifests a sense of confidence and makes a person more comfortable.  In addition, it diminishes the room for stress and frustration.

-Tre