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Is Vanderbilt more stressful than the average university?
Apr. 28, 2014—Vanderbilt was recently ranked by CollegeXpress as one of the top ten most stressful undergraduate institutions in the U.S. This ranking takes into account data about the cost of tuition, academic rigor, acceptance rate, rigor of the school's graduate engineering program, and crime on campus, using data from the U.S. News & World Report and the National Center on Education Statistics. At face value, this ranking does not seem like something to brag about. Why would anyone choose to spend four years of their life here if it was possible to earn a degree from a less stressful environment? But when you take a closer look at the ranking system, you see that the only true negative factor is crime.
Final WilSkills Trip of the Semester
Apr. 21, 2014—With finals week coming up, there was nothing to do but go paddling. This was my second paddling trip and my fifth trip this semester! On Friday we drove directly east for two and a half hours until we reached the area near Clear Creek. Around midnight we set up a tarp and two tents...
Second Semester Review
Apr. 16, 2014—Almost all of my thoughts today have been future-oriented––I have specific plans for the rest of this week, for the weekend, and for next week, and that's all there is left of my semester. But I also want to take time to savor the memories of this past semester. My love for the Vanderbilt community grows with time, and leaving is bittersweet. Here's a post looking at the semester in review.
The Beginning of a Beautiful (Peabody) Relationship
Apr. 15, 2014—Last semester, I applied for the Peabody Scholars program. I pushed myself all semester to qualify for the GPA of 3.6 or above, and I wrote a brief essay of application. In December I was thrilled to be accepted, along with 14 other students in the Peabody College of Education and Human Development. What is...
Rites of Spring + SPEAR
Apr. 14, 2014—I’d like to extol a particular student organization active on Vanderbilt’s campus, Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility––SPEAR for short. Since last semester, I have been one of those flighty, practically invisible club members who signs up for the listserv, attends two meetings total, and then goes to various and sundry events as she pleases,...
Weekend Paddling Trip with WilSkills
Apr. 8, 2014—Oh, WilSkills, it’s been too long. My last trip with this fantastic student organization was before spring break––rock climbing. This past weekend, a group of students drove three and a half hours to Ellijay, Georgia for the “Cartecay River Experience.” At midnight we spread our sleeping bags on the group and fell asleep gazing at...
Still Stressed? Emotions, Time, and Communication
Apr. 2, 2014—In case you missed the previous post on stress management, check it out here! During the fourth week (including spring break) we continued practicing mindfulness and using positive but realistic thinking. We also learned the STEPS method of problem-solving: State the problem Think of solutions Examine the costs and benefits of a few solutions Pick...
A French Concert, Oh Là Là!
Mar. 27, 2014—This evening I had the delightful experience of attending a concert at Sarratt Cinema with my French 102 class, including my professor and her husband. The feature was Genticorum, a three-man band from Québec.
Stressed? Here’s What You Can Do
Mar. 21, 2014—College students face many stressors, usually related to jobs, family, finances, Greek life, residential life, keeping up appearances, worries about the future (grad school, finding a partner, starting a career), academics, and relationships, including friendships. It's a long list, with an equally long list of accompanying feelings/emotions, thoughts, and physical reactions, which contribute to behaviors in response to stress. Here are some tips for managing the stress in your life!
Ethical Service
Mar. 18, 2014—Ethical service––sounds redundant, right? Actually, there’s a lot that can go wrong when we try to do service without first being educated. This is the model adopted by both Alternative Spring Break and the Office of Active Citizenship and Service. In particular, for my most recent seminar in preparation for my trip to South Africa...