Seven Tips for Surviving Exam Week

QOTD: Please, my friend, share with me us some ways to get through this terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad week of tests and deadlines and exams. Anything. 

1) Pandora is your best friend. Or Spotify, or Youtube or whatever means you use to listen to music. When I've got my headphones on, I stay in the zone and have a lower chance of falling asleep over my notes. And when you're tapping a foot or typing with your fingers to the beat of your favorite band, studying just becomes that much more fun. For some sweet tunes, check out Mipso Trio. 

2) You are allowed to take a break. If you sit and read your Econ notes/write that history paper/stare at the same psychology textbook for hours at a time, you might get a lot done but you'll lose steam and eventually collapse. To maximize your studying, consider walking across the quad and back, taking a power nap, getting some yofro or even *gasp* checking Facebook. (Obviously, writing this blog post counts as my break.) The point is to recharge your brain battery - once your tank of mental fuel is full again, get back to work. But this time, you'll feel much more energized and ready to tackle those demand curves. 

3) Study with a friend. Not five or three or even two. Studying in groups can make you lose focus. For me, I end up looking over to see what my other friends are working on and judging my own progress. But if you study with one good friend, then you can keep each other accountable and serve as company during breaks. 

Most importantly, you should study with a friend so you can make sure he wakes you up after that 15-minute nap. (I tried studying at home on Wednesday night and fell asleep at 10 p.m. I woke up at 3:40 a.m. thinking it was already morning. Not good.)

4) Measure the quality of your studying. If you're like me, then you've been counting the hours you've been in the library. Yesterday, I was at the library for eight hours. Today, only four hours. I feel like Ernie Macmillan, except not quite as boss. A, er, more productive way to measure the quality of your studying is looking back at the end of the day and seeing how much you've covered. Pat yourself on the back when you finish each day's work, and then plan out what lessons or chapters you'd like to work on tomorrow. 

5) Exam week is a great excuse to eat as much as you want. I stayed up late last night memorizing 200 Chinese characters and nomming on a Marie Callender Chicken Piccata dish, one whole bag of Smartfood popcorn, chocolate, and then carrots and hummus. Nothing like studying at 1 a.m. to get your stomach grumbling! 

6) Take advantage of your professor's review sessions. Truth: You can only gain from going to them. Is there a concept you're still hazy on? Are you still trying to figure out problem #19 on the practice final exam? Ask questions - this is your last chance! And--I know this is a long shot--try to stay engaged with what you are learning. Some of this stuff about the digestive system is actually pretty interesting! 

7) Keep your chin up. Soon it will be summer, you'll finally be able to go home and eat Mom's food and get ready to start that job/internship/travel abroad experience you've been waiting for for so long. Exam season is long, but it doesn't last forever. 

Seven Tips for Surviving Exam Week

Tweet

National Poetry Month: Reading Between the Lines

QOTD: Share your favorite poem with us! What's the name, the poet and the reason why that poem is your favorite?

So a friend of mine showed me a book of poetry today called Leaving Saturn by Major Jackson, and I remembered - it's National Poetry Month! I haven't been doing a very good job with keeping up with the time and date because at this point it feels like the days are all blended together what with the end of the semester, but I knew I couldn't not blog about this--even if the post is short!

Now I've never been very good at writing poetry, but I sure love to read it! Poetry's got fewer words than prose, yet can have so much meaning embedded within the lines. Some of my favorite poets have been: Edgar Allen Poe, Shel Silverstein, E.E. Cummings, Oscar Wilde and, of course, Emily Dickinson. 

So here is some simple but sweet poetry for your thoughts: 

In honor of final exam season for students...don't give up! We're almost done...

(Source: Courage-Hope-Strength)

For those who are afraid to speak up...

(Source: My Sakura Nights)

and this is for anyone who loves them some Seuss (even though technically The Lorax isn't a poem):

(Source: Driving Yellow Cabs)

What do these poems mean to you?
(Challenge: Write a simple haiku with the classic 5-7-5 syllable meter that features a hummingbird. Share with us in comments below!)

National Poetry Month: Reading Between the Lines

Tweet

My Latest Obsession: "Brown Satchel" from Mossimo Supply Co.

QOTD: Would you rather indulge on an airplane ticket to the Bahamas or on a brand new iPad?

What you see to the left is my trusty, old handbag of 10,896 years (just about). My bag officially retired from its carrying duties yesterday. I got a little teary, especially since I've had it such a long time, but I felt it was finally time for us both to  move on. *sniffle* You have served me well, dearest blue-floral-satchel! 

I went shopping this past weekend to find the perfect new handbag - which is always really, really hard. A handbag needs to have just the right amount of pattern and solid color. It has to have a lot of pockets. It also needs to be big enough to put a couple of books in. The chemistry between me and my handbag also has to be strong. We can't get tired of each other too fast, you know. 

But more often than not, when I do find something that I like I get really attached and I know that bag is the one for me! Which is what happened when I set my eyes on this baby yesterday: 

Brown Satchel with Festive Inserts

Mossimo Supply Co., $30

Photo Credit: Wendy Lu

I have become a huge fan of brown leather and imitations lately. My sister has a purse made of faux brown leather too and it's gawjuss. It just both looks and feels good, and this handbag in particular has a little bit of everything - three pockets (on the inside), a colorfully lined pattern reminiscent of weaving looms and simple leather bows on either side of the handles. 

One of the best things about this bag that first caught my eye was the thick braid in the front. It's so unique and convenient!  I can't tell you how many times I have needed to reach into my purse and grab something--only to get irritated while fumbling with the clasp or zipper. Now, all I have to do is flip the braid! 

Throw in the feather, and I might as well be a hipster. Just kidding. Check out the satchel here for more details and other similar handbags that are perfect for spring fashion.  

My Latest Obsession: "Brown Satchel" from Mossimo Supply Co.

Tweet

Carolina Basketball On My Mind

QOTD: What's your favorite winning-game moment in basketball history? Share a Youtube video of that moment if it's available!

Yesterday, I had one of those surreal moments when something really exciting happens, but then after that moment passes you aren't sure if it happened at all. I was playing weiqi (围棋) with one of my friends in the Pit, which is the heart of UNC-Chapel Hill campus culture, after my last class of the day. A pomegranate Jamba Juice smoothie in hand, I was contemplating my next move when Kendall Marshall emerged from around the corner. 

It is not news that, following the Tar Heels' defeat in the Elite Eight and a short but intense period of fans waiting for an answer, Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall and John Henson all decided to enter the NBA draft. In fact, they announced their decisions yesterday, right before Marshall walked through the Pit, and I didn't even know the waiting game had been over until after he left and my friends told me. 

When I looked up and saw the tall, looming figure of Marshall walking in our direction clutching his own large Jamba Juice smoothie, I glanced at my friends with a sort of shocked, panic-stricken look on my face and then scrambled to my feet. 

I think I said something along the lines of, "I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Wendy," and then asked him how his day was after shaking his hand. There's no telling how often this happens to him on a daily basis, but Marshall introduced himself (I think? Again, it happened so quickly) and seemed pretty cool with all of this. And then, I told him that we were all extremely proud of him and what he had done for us this year. He thanked me with a smile, and I requested to take a photo with him. 

People of the world: This is Kendall Marshall, former point guard on the UNC-CH Basketball team! (Photo Credit: Marquis Peacock)

This was honestly the most exciting moment of the entire year for me so far. I never would have thought that I'd be lucky enough to meet one of the Tar Heels' best basketball players, much less get to talk to him and tell him how much he means to the Carolina community. Because even though there are a ton of local, state and national fans who are upset with Barnes', Marshall's, and Henson's decision to leave UNC-CH, I think inside all of us are proud of the way they have represented Carolina during their time here. 

Here is a confession: I didn't even know what Harrison Barnes looked like last year, or what our coach's name was (I know now, Roy). As a freshman, I still didn't really feel like I belonged at Carolina, much less care about UNC sports. It wasn't until this year, when I went to my very first basketball game and we won against Georgia Tech, that I learned my first lesson: Basketball isn't just about basketball. 

It's not just about how the crowd roars when Barnes catches a rebound or when Tyler Zeller makes a slam dunk. It's not just about the ominous cheers of Go to hell Dook! or I'm a Tar Heel born, I'm a Tar Heel bred, and when I die I'm a Tar Heel dead. And, believe it or not, it's not just about winning. It's about all of this taken together, and when the clock strikes 0:00 and the crowd rushes the court, it's about everything the team has done to get to that point. It's about how hard the Tar Heels have worked to get to where they are now.

We may not have won the NCAA tournament this year, but Carolina is still number one--and not just for the sports. I became hooked onto UNC Basketball this year after I realized how well our team members know each other--both on and off the court. Marshall was a good sport in deciding not to play in the Elite Eight due to his wrist injury, and I have seen the players be nothing but supportive of each other this entire season. In the end, it was the team's remarkably effective communication and clever strategies (aka Roy's coaching) that led us to beat Duke by 18 points earlier this month. And really, what else matters? 

Kendall Marshall in the UNC-Duke game on March 3, 2012. 
Carolina won 88-70. 

Many--but not everyone--see this move by Barnes, Henson and Marshall as quitting, but I don't see it that way. Don't get me wrong--I am also pretty disappointed that I won't be able to see these big three lead us to incredible wins next year. And I may still be a newbie to UNC sports culture, but if there's anything I know it's this: If you have the determination to go for your dreams and do what you think is best for yourself even when everyone else is telling you otherwise, then that says something. Our team did the best it could with the time and resources given to the players and despite the injuries. We've won five NCAA championships, including the 2009 tourny, and this sounds blasphemous, but we don't need to win every single year. 

Barnes, Henson and Marshall are all moving on to bigger dreams. We should too. 

And anyhow, who says UNC-Chapel Hill can't win next year? If anything, their departure will give way to a brand new team with fresh, talented players ready to make 2012-2013 our year. I see you, McAdoo and Strickland. We're counting on y'all to make some Carolina blue magic happen on the court. No pressure or anything. 

Thanks to Barnes, Henson, Marshall and Zeller for making me truly feel like I belong here as a UNC student and as a Tar Heel fan this year. We will miss them, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing them a lot on television. Besides, they'll be back to visit--like Kendall Marshall said, he will always be a Tar Heel at heart. 

Carolina Basketball On My Mind

Tweet

The Importance of Reading Sllloowlyyy

QOTD: Have you read The Hunger Games and/or seen the movie? If so, thoughts? If not, are you planning to join the hype? 

My reading and writing sanctuary this past summer at the Interfaith Chapel connected to the local hospital.

I used to pride myself on being a slow reader. When I was younger, I would read under the table during dinner and under the covers past bedtime, traveling across the world with nothing but my imagination to keep me satiated and my newly found friends to keep me company. I can't swim in an ocean or even a pool to save my life, but I love nothing more than to swim in a sea of words. 

It's been months since I last read for fun. It wasn't until I picked up my favorite magazine, Self,  a couple weeks ago and realized that my reading habits had completely changed. Instead of taking my time to read each page--from the Editor's Letter to the recipes to the stories of cancer survivors--like I always used to, my eyes darted from left to right and I finished the magazine in less than five minutes. What's more, I realized I didn't really enjoy what I just read. 

Truth is, it's difficult to take several reading-intensive classes and expect myself to soak in the textbooks like I would in a hot tub. Don't get me wrong - I find my psychology and journalism textbooks fascinating (really, I do). But when I'm on a deadline to take weekly quizzes on chapters of over 100 pages, it's not easy to find luxurious time for reading slowly. Instead, I resort to scanning the paragraphs, restating the main points to myself, and taking notes. 

And even then, I don't always fully understand what I am reading. 

I miss being able to take my time and really staying focused--not just when it comes to reading, but also when it comes to doing assignments or eating meals. The lack of time in a day puts a constraint on everything that needs to be done, so much that all the fun gets sucked out of whatever I am doing at the time. 

Yesterday, I picked up a psychology literature review on cognitive entrenchment** that a friend had passed on to me. I occasionally have to read literature reviews for my research methods class, but those are always for the purpose of research. This time, I read all the way through with no music on, no snacks, and no journal for note-taking. In short, Erik Dane (2010) suggests that evidence shows individuals of high expertise within a certain field leads to inflexibility, such as when it comes to instructing novices or adapting new ideas into their systems of already rigid values and methods. 

It took over half an hour for me to finish the article, but I was surprised by my level of interest in the article. It was so relevant to real world models, like company hierarchies. It was a little difficult to read given the sophisticated language, but the meat of Dane's article resonated with me and that was exciting--I really did understand what he was trying to say. I felt like I had learned. 

While comparing my past reading habits with my current conventions, I came up with three ways to merge them for the most affective reading experience (whether that be for reading textbooks or fantasy novels): 

1) Take notes and reflect after I read. If I am taking notes in between skims, it breaks my concentration. Plus, writing in between reading distracts me from actually absorbing the material. It's more effective to take in everything at once before pouring out any thoughts I may have on paper. 

2) Read all the way through, then go back and skim. That way, the first time around I am able to understand the content and its full context. Then, when I give the chapter a second glance, the main ideas will jump out at me and further anchor down what I just learned. 

3) Apply what I read to real examples. Do you remember back when you were little, what you did when you finished a book? If you were like me, you'd knot a cape around your neck and pretend you were the pirate or superhero in that book, ready to take on the adventures that the world had to offer--right in your own bedroom! That's essentially what I need to do, minus the cape. 

Whether you are reviewing the latest article on the Tar Heels' win against Ohio or staying up late to finish The Hunger Games, it's not about how fast you retain what you're reading (unless you're due for the 3 o'clock showing of THG). It's about what the information you are given means to you and how you use it to better understand your current outlook on life.

How do you make sure your reading experience is of high quality? What is the last thing (book, magazine, article) you read that really made you think?

**Source: DANE, E. (2010). Reconsidering the trade-off between expertise and flexibility: A cognitive entrenchment perspective. Academy Of Management Review, 35(4), 579-603. doi:10.5465/AMR.2010.53502832. 

The Importance of Reading Sllloowlyyy

Tweet