University of South Carolina Libraries
Exair Students try to survive exam stress By DAVID BOWDEN Assistant Carolina Life Editor Stress and college life seem to go hand-in-hand. College students often feel the headaches, increased heart-rate, anger and frustration associated with crucial exams and a scramble to complete last-minute projects. In talking with a variety of USC students, one thing all agreed on was that they do feel stress. The amount of stress students profess to is quite different, however, ranging from "not a lot" to "constantly." Todd Scholl, a sophomore broadcasting major, said he is stressed "a little, sure, but I'm worried because I think I prepare for my exams ahead of time. The less prepared you are the more stress you feel." Mark Kollitz, a civil engineering junior, said ne aoesn t teei stress yet, "but I will when exams get closer." At the other extreme is Mary Cicero, a biology junior. "I feel a great deal of stress," she said. "It comes from having so much to do for everybody, every class, every organization. To get caught up in one class, you have to let another slide. It's an endless cycle." Broadcasting sophomore Melissa Sweeney said "You're constantly studying. There is too much pressure for a college student; you get burned out." Students experience a number of stress symptoms. Cicero $aid she has a "permanent fatigue that hits around mid-semester. When stress gets really bad, I have bad stomach pains and daily headaches." Sweeney believes she gets "edgy and short with my friends. My eating habits are really bad." Kollitz claims to get "tense, on edge, generally anxiety-ridden." The cures for these problems also take many forms. Kollitz listens to the blues. Sweeney said she just tries to laugh. Both Scholl and Cicero said they work to finish whatever is the origin of their stress, whether project or paper. Cicero doesn't think the problem will go away unless the student works to remove it. She aoesn t like to taice many oreaics because that would only delay a solution, she said. Scholl said, "I try to relieve the problem, or at least take my mind off of it for a little while. That is the best you can do." E DONT CHICKEN OUT. EXCUSES DON'T SAVE UVES. BLOOD DOES American Red Cross Coming to a news stand near you 1 j! H >2 i -i f t? H T3 ? ? .?. ! M eU T3 O ? I S -a 8 E IIS n: ? !| ?#s* Hsr ") I i i m II ":W 3|.? i S I ! o ! H j-zr-> 1* lisS\ 1 : ?? is: th< ?_. I Sophomore Robert Brabham is o Exam stress sw By KATHY HEBERGER Assistant Carolina Life Editor When you're scheduling allnighters, buying caffeine in horsepill size and yelling at your friends when they ask if you've read all those chapters yet, it's hard to think about relaxing. But relaxation is exactly what the doctor orders. "Just relax. Take time to read a book, listen to music. You're brain gets saturated and needs to relax," USC stress therapist Dr. Kevin King said. King said it isn't so much the exams that cause students' stress but instead what people think about exams. "The test is just a piece of paper with writing on it," he said. "People tend to get more stressed at mid-terms than at finals because they don't know where they stand." I fa APAKDvlENTSO-7 RESERVE OFFICER nF X MY DEGREE GOT r ARMYROTCG Army ROTC classes skills sought by top i term for an Army R( ARM THESMAR COURSE Yl Contact Capt. H or visit him at Legare < i high | | iBinE ^^ nl fH H <'J^" Jf ne of the hundreds of students getting eeps campus >r prescr "Many people are uncoml or worry about that person r ing the bluebook pages fast can be very contagious." Knowing yourself is one of the h most effective ways of combatting Ir stress, King said. "Know yourself, k If it makes you stressed to study p with other people, study by li yourself." n Other people's comments and fc feelings can affect an individual's a stress. "You might feel good about g your situation until people question you with 'Did you study this?' v Then people start questioning \ themselves," King said. c The classroom atmosphere dur- 2 ing an exam also contributes to t ?MAS Is com has FREE RENT, t call 779-2373 to move in by CHRISTMAS S' TRAINING CORPS HIE THE INTERVIEW. OT ME THE JOB. i provide the leadership employers. Register this DTC elective. lloTC : TEST COLLEGE I DO CAN TAKE. J [olman @ 777-6542 * College on the Horseshoe. cost c ww,,,v ?I III IU iw iggwaiwii ill ai III ibesrel; fortable with time limits lext to them who's turner than they are. Stress Dr. Kevin King stress therapist igh stress levels in many people. 1 addition to being worried about nowing the material, "many peole are uncomfortable with time mits or worry about that person lext to them who's turning the iluebook pages faster than they re. Stress can be very conta;ious," King said. Coping with stress often begins vith scheduling, he said. He adrises students to stay on a schelule as much as possible before ind during exams ? allocating ime for work, eating, sleeping, reting, the word is here's no doubt! ^ Tis the S< Look Youi 20% OFF Dr Any Evening ( Please present this coupon with incoming order Expires 1 < >f stu< SL "^1 i? ^ J Eric Glenn/The GamecocK e library before exams. axation laxing and, if possible, exercise. "Take care of yourself and eai right," he said. "Don't cheat or sleep because it will hurt youi memory and concentration." "This is the time to let people know you need some TLC. Tell them 'I need a hug' or that you need to unload," he said, adding that friends and family who don't have exams are the best potential givers of tender love and care. King will have "Coping With Stress" seminars today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the second flooi of the BA Building. During the seminars, King explains why people have stress and offers ways tc cope with stressful situations. More information can be obtained by calling the Counseling and Hu man Development Center al 777-5223. out ?\ eason to rBEST... 4 FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA SUNSHINE CLEANERS Specializing in: Fine Fabrics Alterations Evening Wear 799-2030 425 Assembly St. $UHSkuW a*AKSJtS y Cleaning jJown or Tux I -1 -91 No Copies Please ? dying Carbohydrates give energy for studying By ELIZABETH LYNCH Carolina Life Editor It would be a college student's dream come true if there was a drug to induce brain stimulation. Sounds crazy, right? Not according to the people at the General Nutrition Center in Columbia. "'Brain Power' and 'Fuel for Thought' are two types of vitamins available to stimulate the mind," General Nutrition Center employee Donna Muszynski said. Musynski said the main ingredient in the vitamins is the amino acid L-Glutamine. "Amino acids are like brain food, but it must be in the body's system on a regular basis. You can't just take one and expect miracles," Musynski said. Kris Bennett, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at the Open Door Health Center, said products like "Brain Power" and "Fuel for Thought" are useless. 'These vitamins are a waste of money, could be harmful and come from an unreliable source with no credentials," Bennett said. "These stimulants usually end up being urinated out and if too L many are taken, too much stress is ' added to the kidneys," Bennett said. Bennett said a proper diet is the | key to having enough energy to get students through long nights of studying. "Complex carbohydrates found in fruits, vegetables and whole grain breads and cereals [ should account for 50 percent of your diet," Bennett said. Bennett also suggests a decrease in fat intake by removing fried See ENERGY page 5 </ec\ w u "Tie one on" this holiday season... Tie a red ribbon on the left side of vourcar in a wish J for a less violent holiday season. Ribbons will be distributed on campus. Office of Alcohol & Drug Programs Kappa Delta Sorority MADD Governor's Office of Highway Safety <sWr,] J . . . , 5