Managing Stress During Exams

Each year, the end of the spring semester at Meredith College is bittersweet. After weeks of lessons, classes finally come to an end. And while students are excited about summer vacation, internships, study abroad, graduation and spending time with family and friends, homework, projects, tests, quizzes, and finals galore can be worrisome and stressful.

During this time of the year, it is important for students not to fall into a pre-vacation slump, and to put forth their best effort to finish the semester strong. It is also very important that students do not over exert themselves, adding unnecessary strain to their minds and bodies during finals.

It is true, some stressful situations are unavoidable, but in order for students to be successful under pressure, they must learn to manage stress in positive, productive ways.

On campus, Meredith students have access to numerous resources to help reduce stress and promote a tranquil mind. The meditation room in Jones Chapel, for example, is great for sitting down, relaxing, and reflecting. There are bean bag chairs and cushions for lounging and a large, round window that lets in the light of day. The parlors in the residence halls are a good place to kick-back and watch TV, and make a good place for studying. And the library is full of comfortable little study nooks for individual and group studies. Most of the larger study rooms have bean bag chairs, tables, dry erase boards, and TVs.

Another resource that is available to help students manage stress on campus is counseling services, located on the second floor of Carroll Hall. Students can schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor, who will help them find a way to deal with their stress effectively. Counseling services are free of charge for Meredith students, and counselors will maintain confidentiality.

By Darrielle Milford, ’19