It’s that time of year again! With April upon us, students at UVic are gearing up for the month-long rush of studying, essay writing and exam preparation before summer sun hits.
The winter semester's examination period can quickly become a blur of dreaded (sometimes overwhelming) deadlines, but UVic resources and family engagement can effectively provide support to loved ones during this turbulent time.
Having great support networks is immeasurably important to success. According to Cengage Education, one of the world’s largest online educational institutions, strong interpersonal relationships - especially with family members - are the cornerstone to success in the 21st century.
Emma Mason, a UVic counsellor, helps shed some light on how families can provide support, even from afar. Phone conversations are one of the easiest ways to stay in touch. When conversing on the phone, Mason recommends focusing upon what is being said and reflecting back the feelings being heard while reserving the desire to offer advice.
“Ask the student if they would like suggestions, or help with problem-solving. If they agree, keep it simple. If they decline, respect their decision,” said Mason. She also suggests that helping students to form a plan or create a set of goals can sometimes be helpful.
One of the most important things to do during the exam season is to efficiently organize time. This could include keeping track of important dates on a wall planner as well as utilizing a daily planner (which the UVic Students' Society distributes for free) to keep track of daily goals.
Mason believes that keeping stress levels at bay during exams is contingent with maintaining organization, keeping good health, managing time effectively and breaking large tasks into smaller ones.
“Break down big projects or large amounts of reading [and] studying into manageable pieces, especially if you have a tendency to procrastinate. This helps increase motivation and decrease overwhelm. And be sure to give yourself rewards for completing each piece,” suggests Mason.
Sometimes even very simple pleasures can perk you up.
“I reward myself by enjoying something sweet like a brownie or a cookie. Sometimes I have coffee with a friend to vent about all the work we have to do. It’s strange but it makes me feel better,” recommends Anna Chpilevaia, a fourth year humanities student.
While many students have their own ways of dealing with the stress of exam season, there are many great on-campus resources that are helpful for this time of year. New students may be especially unaware of the abundance of on-campus and electronic sources that can help with the many problems encountered during the course of the school year. UVic's Counselling Services website provides some excellent tips for dealing with stress. There are also many academic services available at The Learning and Teaching Centre.
The most important thing students should remember is to hang in there - this too shall pass! Exams run from April 7-23. Official examination timetables are posted around campus and can also be accessed online at http://registrar.uvic.ca/undergrad/registration/exams/examws.html.
Originally published in Volume 1, Issue 3 of the Fountain, April 2008