cultivate your garden

nikki // bs in allied health science // smc alum c/o '16

[lulustudying]

1. Have a Positive Mental Attitude- Prime yourself at being always comfortable and confident that u can do a lot better at studying. Remember that you are studying things that will prove to be valuable in real life.  2. Prepare your Work Space- Look for a place in your home or bedroom where u think u can study and maintain concentration in your work. Have materials stocked up and in place before your study. This way, u can finish your work without any interruptions.  3. Avoid Cramming- study an hour a day even when there’s no homework. Scan your notebooks and do a little advanced reading of your textbooks. You can also research through the internet to learn more about the topics u are covering in school.  I suggest google scholar, it’s like google but for students, it has the citations, and filters results so that only helpful outcomes appear. 4. Do projects with more enthusiasm and creativity- Don’t be afraid to think of new ideas or ways to present your homework or projects. Teachers always give additional points to students who show great effort in their works. SO, don’t be afraid to do something original, do something that hasn’t been done before. 5. Raise Your Hand- Be active and establish a friendly attitude towards your teachers. Offer to help them out in checking some work, filing papers or just carrying their things. Little good things add up in the end for that extra effort grade, and they’ll always remember you as a very helpful student.  6. Enjoy Reading the Latest News- Find connections or associations with your life as a student, as a child, as a friend, or as a citizen. Certain reports would always ask for u to react so better be ahead with current events which you may be affected with.  7. Listen to Your Teacher, take a few notes- In my experience, the more i copy and take down notes, the more i get lost in the lecture. It is best to listen first and understand before u jot down any important keywords. Yes, use keywords, simple doodles and arrows to make associations. These will help u remember all concepts mentally.  8. Keep Notes on Index Cards- I use personally use the smaller oxford ones, they are more portable honestly pretty aesthetic..   9. Watch TV Wisely- Yep you heard it, TV, when watching TV I sometimes pick up points which may seem relevant in my life. They sometimes even have something to do with what’s happening in class at the moment so, always initiate conversation about the latest shows and issues you have watched. Don’t be afraid to argue and defend your opinions. 

[stability]

no offense but im sick of a school system that constantly preaches “dont be afraid to fail!!!” and then creates an atomsphere where grades are so excessively important and youre anxious if you get anything less than an A

[post--grad]

grad program open house questions!

it’s open house season!! the most wonderful (stressful?) time of the year! if you’ve been accepted into a program and are planning on attending its open house but unsure of how to take advantage of it, here are some questions you may want to ask current students.

FIRST OF ALL: you survived the application process, which was you attempting to convince programs that you’re a good fit. open house is the program’s chance to convince you that they’re a good fit. the pressure is off you - you’re in. so don’t stress out too much about impressing folks. you definitely want to be professional, but the program has reviewed your work and decided that it’s good, that they want you. exhale. this is about deciding whether they’re the right fit for you.

there are a thousand questions you could ask, but here are a few to get you started:

WHAT NOT TO ASK

please don’t ask others (students in the program or other new admits) about the specifics of their funding packages. general questions are fine, but the actual amount usually depends on a ton of factors, and comparisons can get messy.

i’d also suggest being careful who you talk to about other acceptances. it’s good to be up front about whether you’re considering other offers, but there’s a difference between talking that over with an advisor and bragging about your options to a group of people. 

THE PROGRAM

what’s the trajectory? how long do you take classes? are there breadth requirements? 

what’s the schedule? what will each year in the program look like?

how many students actually obtain the PhD? what happens to those who don’t? what’s the job placement rate for those who do?

what’s normative time? do students usually stay within it? what happens, financially, if you go over it? 

what’s the general mood of the department? collaborative or competitive? formal or friendly? (one shortcut: ask what the person’s favorite / least favorite parts of the department are).

LIVING SITUATIONS

do most grad students commute or live nearby? are they single, or do they have their own families? 

is a car necessary? how’s public transportation?

cost of living? average rent? gas prices?

best/worst neighborhoods? which ones are family friendly? which are closest to campus? which are quiet? where do the undergrads live? 

social scene – what do you like to do? are there resources nearby to support it? 

hobbies (rock climbing, yoga, etc.)

socializing (bars, restaurants, concert venues, galleries, etc.)

THE SCHOOL

what are the student demographics? don’t forget the undergrads – you’ll be teaching them, so it’s good to know what that will look like

how interdisciplinary is the department? does it encourage collaboration with folks in other departments? are there any interdisciplinary programs set up, or are there restrictions on that kind of thing? 

are there other educational resources nearby?

how’s the health insurance and mental health support? 

MONEY

honestly don’t be shy about asking financial questions in general (other than the one above). we all gotta eat, there’s no shame in that.

is the stipend enough to cover living expenses? when do you receive payment?

do students work over the summers? if so, what kinds of work?

are there “extra” jobs available, like readerships, research assistantships, graduate writing center positions, etc.?

what’s the teaching load? what classes are you expected to teach? are there options for teaching in other departments? 

what’s the fellowship situation like? is there funding available after your first year? 

[ivystudying]

It’s been a while since I’ve made a post, and I figured that these tips might be extra helpful with exam season approaching. As someone who struggles a lot with procrastination, I do everything I can to fight the urge to put assignments off until the last minute (even though I’m not always successful). 

As always, good luck! (ᵔᴥᵔ)

[studywithmarissa-deactivated201]

dealing with mental health and school

take time for yourself

when you’re dedicated to school, you don’t want to take a step back. it’s hard to think about not working for most of your free time. but, sometimes you have to. you have to realize that it’s okay to take a step back and take time for yourself. you can’t always be perfect and that’s okay. it isn’t a crime to practice self care.

let your teachers know

let’s be real, no one wants to open up about mental health. you don’t want to admit you’re struggling. but, sometimes it’s best to do that. depending on who the teacher is, they may give you an extension, a break, or even advice. teachers care about how you feel.

don’t bite off more than you can chew

if you’re already feeling bad, don’t take on extra credit assignments. although they usually don’t have a due date, they may be too rigorous or take up too much time (refer back to 1). don’t overwork yourself or else you will feel even worse if you can’t finish what you already have. i can’t stress this enough.

talk to someone

this is the best method i know to dealing with mental health in school. someone is always available to talk. it could be a teacher, friend, counselor, or even a stranger. find someone who will listen and talk about your stressors as needed. it will help you immensely and possibly make your mental state improve!

realize that you are not alone

it’s always hard to remember this. it seems like you are the only person in the world who deals with this, when it’s the opposite. there are millions who feel the same way and it is better to just embody that fact. soon, it will be okay again. we will all be okay.

[inkskinned]

okay friends here’s a quick Guide to Doing the Finals w/Mental Illness (feel free to add)

first of all, before finals, as much as you can: get cozy with teachers. go to office hours. have 3 questions written down that might actually help you, ask them. if you have anxiety about this stuff, rehearse beforehand, and keep the door open (it will feel less confrontational).

assume you will go into Bad Mode at some point. when you can, beforehand, start early. if it’s 2 sentences, a thought on what your thesis could be, whatever - get it started. it’s much easier from a start than from a blank page.

in assumption of Bad Mode, have your basic needs taken care of. if you know getting food is going to be difficult, stock up on snacks so that you force yourself to eat during the day. i don’t care if they’re oreos. you need to eat. if you can mix in some healthy stuff - nuts, carrots, apples, etc - go for it. but eat. buy dry shampoo for the days you can’t shower, or use corn starch. set out the clothes you will wear for the week.

if you can skip caffeine, do so. most of us won’t but… it does help anxiety.

find out if you study better with friends or alone. most “study groups” are a waste of time if people aren’t focused, and focusing on people and school is almost impossible with The Mental Illness, which wants you to not do work.

bribe yourself if you have to. “if i pass with [this average] i can buy all the things already in my amazon cart.” don’t go shopping, though. you’ll find yourself looking at strange shit for a dollar and it’s 4 in the morning and the essay isn’t written.

figure out what learning style you are and study using that. remember that if you doodle, you’re probably a kinesthetic learner - learn by doing. visual learners? flashcards. auditory? tape the lectures. kinesthetic? write it down, buddy.

make lists. they reduce anxiety and help you see that what feels overwhelming is only like 3 things.

figure out where you focus best. libraries or your room? 

protip: use the school’s computer. you know, the big embarrassing ones everyone can see? having your screen visible to others will help you stay on track - particularly because the people waiting to use the computers will be v annoyed with you if you’re not busy.

fire your inner critic. you’re on full Survive mode, pal. you don’t have to make everything perfect to your standards. i find myself pointlessly obsessing about colorcoding and pretty writing. no time for that anymore. it’s there, it’s legible? it’s good enough.

five page literary/research essay gotcha down? get your evidence all of it. write it in the document. then put your own words about it. a good method is “i’m gonna give you evidence. [evidence]. this is an analysis of the evidence”. then put a sentence before your first to transition into it. then put one after your last to transition out of it. suddenly you have a lot of words with what feels like very little work. 

wait to write introductions until the essay is done

citations made easier

white noise - good for study, stim, and also sleep

when you need to, just fess up. admit you have a problem. tell your teachers, talk to them about it, try to set up something to help you make up missing work. I want to say 95% of the time… teachers will do their best to pass you. they just want to see you try.

if you have trouble focusing on 1 thing at a time - do multiple homeworks at once. if you go on tumblr not even bc you care about this rotten website but because you just need something else, this will probably help you. two sentences on essay 1, three math problems, three words on essay 2? before you know it, it adds up.

i hear a lot of “quit social media!” but tbh if you reward yourself with like… human interaction… dont quit it. i’m like “okay i want to message him back but i need to finish X amount of work and then i can”. 

small rewards are the bomb.com

honestly dress for success. if you’re in full No mode, it can be easy to wear the same thing 8 times in a row. if you pick out an outfit you love, and spend the time getting ready in the morning - it does help. and if you need to be in pj’s to attend the final? at least you’re there tbh.

grades are not a reflection of how much you learned, how hard you tried, or anything like that. they are frequently subjective. remind yourself that you are not defined by someone’s subjective amount.

tell a buddy about what you’re dealing with. have someone who knows. who listens to you. 

sleep helps you learn way better than cramming tbh

good luck i love you

[studynostalgic]

thanks omg

[joolshallie]

How to avoid burnout

I’ve had quite a few asks about ‘burnout’ from studying too much, so here are a few tips to avoid burning out:

Manage your time efficiently - here’s a link to my post on time management. Split projects into small parts - this helps with getting your workload to feel a lot more achievable, and I think it also increases productivity if you are ticking things off a list, and can see the progress you’re making.

Have a routine - by this I mean having clear times when you are working and not. Being in school/uni is not like a job - you can’t just leave work at the end of the day when you come home, because you have homework etc. but you can have clear times by which you’ll stop working. I make sure I stop work in the region of 8:00-8:30pm every night, to leave myself the evening to relax. I also find that having a morning and evening routine that incorporates nice relaxing things (like taking baths and reading) helps too.

Schedule downtime into your routine - when planning your day/week literally plan in time to relax - whether this is watching TV, playing video-games, reading or seeing friends. It’s so important to do this, if you don’t have downtime you will just go mad and burnout.

Make time for breaks - even if you are in finals week or working to a deadline, it is so important to plan in breaks to your revision/work. Each person is different in the time that they can work effectively for. I find that I can work for about 1-1.5 hours at a time before I start to become restless and distracted - so I always make sure to have a break and really get away from work for a little while.

Practise self-care - it is so so vital that you take the time out to do whatever it is that will help maintain good mental, physical and emotional health - this may be meditation, reading, exercising, having a long bath etc. Even if it is just taking 10 minutes before you go to bed to do some yoga, or making yourself your favourite hot drink, every little helps!

Start saying ‘no’ - this is something I have had to start doing this term as I just took on too much extra work and made too many commitments. You have to be able to say no to some projects/activities, otherwise you will just be busy 24/7 and have no time to relax. You have to realise that (even if you want to) you physically can’t do everything!

Don’t force work if you’re ill - if you have a cold/headache/the flu/having a bad mental health day etc. then you won’t be able to work as effectively or efficiently as you normally can. I think it’s better to take a few days completely off working, when you can solely focus on resting and getting well again, rather than trying to force yourself to work through the illness. If you don’t give your body this time to rest then it will just take a lot longer to get better again, and you’ll end up feeling burnt out.

This list is by no means all you can do, it’s just a few things that might help. If you feel that you are starting to burnout - if you are feeling anxious, stressed, fatigued or anything like that then make sure you reach out to someone (family, friends, GP). Don’t leave it because you think burnout isn’t serious, or that it’ll just get better on its own. 

[horizontalcool]

I can’t believe I completed my 2016 bullet journal (left). So stoked to fill in all the memories to come this year💕aka New York in March😍

[sleepysprout]

work hard now. stay up those extra hours studying for that test. rewrite your notes by hand. read the textbook again. go over your flash cards a second time. it is tough but nothing can beat the feeling of getting a grade you worked hard for and earned. you can do it, i believe in you.

[hufflepuffscholar]

shoutout to the students who, in their pursuit of education, cannot afford to even go see a film at the cinema

shoutout to the students who had to give up their dream schools because they couldn’t afford it

shoutout to the students who recycle their stationery year after year

shoutout to the students illegally downloading books and textbooks because they can’t afford even the e-book versions

shoutout to the students living on the cheapest coffee

shoutout to the students who have sewed their bags/backpacks over and over again because they can’t afford a replacement

shoutout to the students working part time and full jobs to make ends meet and pay their bills

shoutout to the students who have to give up their passions, indulgents and going-outs because extra money is hard to come by

shoutout to the students affording to go to school, but too poor to do anything else

shoutout to the students that run themselves thin in the process of getting an education

shoutout to the students that prevail despite all this

shoutout to the students who need to take a break from all of this

you’re great

[faithsmiles]

Hi friends! I’m spending a year in STL, MO with the Loretto Volunteers and my roommates and I decided to share our stories on a blog! Here’s my post: https://yearofloretto.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/nikki-takes-stlloretto-kentucky/

If you’re interested in the work I’m doing, please don’t hesitate to send me a message <3

[studynonyms]

BE PROUD OF YOURSELF. If you’re trying your best but still getting unsatisfactory grades, BE PROUD OF YOURSELF because you tried hard and can recognize that you need to try even harder. If didn’t try and got unsatisfactory results and feel bad, BE PROUD OF YOURSELF because you feel bad and that’s like step 1 of getting the grades you want. If you accidentally dozed off at the desk during a study session and woke up to find mounds of work waiting, BE PROUD OF YOURSELF because it means that you worked hard. 

BE PROUD OF YOURSELF and congratulate yourself and recognize your own self-worth. Never, ever let anyone else put you down. YOU ARE YOUR OWN PERSON, A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL, AND YOU HAVE FLAWS TOO. YOU WILL GET TIRED. YOU WILL GET BORED. YOU WILL GET MAD. AND THAT’S ONLY BECAUSE YOU’RE WORKING HARD, ALRIGHT, SO BE PROUD OF YOURSELF.

[horizontalcool]

my college experience- post 2

Ok, I know I said I’d talk about what it’s like to be a science major in this post, but I’ve changed my mind. Before I talk about that, I want to do a quick rant about putting others down because of their major. If you know me personally or have seen my rants the past few years, then you already know what you’re about to read.

I’ve met quite a number of people whose first reaction when I say “I’m a science major” say something along the lines of “Wow, I respect that. I could never do that. You must not go out a lot then huh?” I have also met people who talk down on other majors because 1) What kind of career would you get with that major after college? 2) Their time commitment is less than theirs. 

Personally, I don’t recall ever talking down on other people’s majors (unless I have personal beef with them), and if I have, then I am genuinely sorry. For my time during my undergrad taught me to be less ignorant about things like this. Here’s my personal opinions on why people shouldn’t talk others down about their major:

For some, it’s their passion to pursue this major because of how it has impacted their life, either directly or indirectly.

They know themselves best. Meaning, they know what their interests are. If someone is interested in numbers and want to pursue accounting, physics, or mathematics, then boo, do you. Don’t talk down on them because these concepts are things one can’t easily grasp.

Speaking of grasping information, it’s major key to know this about yourself. For example, I’m more of a visual/auditory learner. I learn best when I’m one on one with an instructor (sometimes during lecture as well but it’s not as effective) and they’re explaining and drawing concepts while I follow along. For others, they are kinesthetic learners, so time in the lab is probably their prime time.

Everyone learns differently at different paces! Just because it takes someone longer to understand something, does not necessarily mean they aren’t fit for a particular major. And please don’t try to talk them into switching their major. Let them decide.

There is no “easy” major. From what I have witnessed, every major has some (or many) classes, usually upper div, that everyone identifies as some of the toughest classes you’ll take in that major.  

Back to the whole career thing, don’t trip about how much money you’ll be making compared to your colleagues. What matters is that you’re happy with what you do. As cliche as it sounds, work in a job that doesn’t feel like work. 

Please be considerate when talking about majors with others. Bring people up, not down.

xo,

Nikki 

[brbimstudying]

i am a studyblr, i am a student, but i am not a study machine. yet here i sit, overworked; physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. still, i’m driven to continue, all for the wrong reasons, by pressure and expectations, by deadlines and the fear of falling behind.

my back aches from having sat hunchbacked over textbooks and a notebook for the last ten or so hours, the only breaks i took were for lunch and dinner. there’s a red, sore dent on my fourth finger of my right hand, the same hand that has been struggling to present a consistent ‘neat’ handwriting for the last few years. the dent is the only calloused part on my hand. i wonder when it’ll give in.

i don’t think i’m the only one who goes through this. studyblrs everywhere, putting the best version of them on show, the productive side of them, the motivated side. classmates, students, getting excited over a good grade, sending snapchats of them studying. but does anybody come out to speak about when they hit a mental wall?

everybody feels the need to show that they are perfect, to show that they have absolutely zero problems. somehow, in this world where we all are sure to face problems of our own, it’s almost taboo to reveal them.

but i’m telling you, it’s okay.

this is the raw me.

i am tired of having to always show the best side of me.

i am a studyblr, i am a student, and i am tired of studying. 

[notyouraveragemedgirl-deactivat]

THIS. 

[creatingsomeshit]

26 Reminders for Going to School Like a Badass

1. Your attitude dictates your experience, so start finding things to get psyched about.

2. Stock up on healthy snacks in your house!!! You’ll be glad you did when the study-munchies roll around (and they always do).

3. Invest in a good planner. Especially if you take part in multiple extra-curriculars, I can’t stress how helpful it is having a place to check back on deadlines and big events.

4. Write down all your teachers’ names and emails as soon as you get them, so you’re not searching for them when you’re absent.

5. No one is having as much fun as their snapchat story makes it seem.

6. Don’t believe what your peers tell you about tests they take before you, study how much YOU need to.

7. Be nice to your math teacher. Partial credit on math problems might save your grade.

8. Don’t throw out syllabuses/first day handouts!!!! Theres a good chance they have information on the late policy and a gazillion other helpful things.

9. In fact, try to hold on to as many papers as you can for when finals inevitably attack.

10. No one knows you wore those jeans yesterday.

11. Be conscious of how you smell. Don’t be B.O. kid, but also try not to suffocate your lab partner with the scent of artificial fruit/flowers.

12. That cookie in the cafeteria is probably not worth 95 cents. Pack snacks from home to resist overpriced school treats.

13. If you’re carrying around a travel mug of coffee, people will usually leave you alone. 

14. Don’t spend more time planning your study schedule than actually studying. Just get your books out and do it.

15. Never underestimate the amount of motivation you can get from watching Legally Blonde (movie or musical). 

16. Try to attend at least one school sporting event per season, even if thats not really your scene. Some teachers even offer extra credit for going to big games!

17. Don’t be that kid that asks the teacher when you’re getting your tests back. They have like a gazillion to grade. You’ll get them when they’re done.

18. Have a pump-up playlist for the ride to school and the walk to your first class. Nothing feels more badass than walking through crowded hallways while listening to Halsey’s “New Americana”.

19. Set up a back-up study zone for when you need a change of pace.

20. Don’t put off creative projects because you think they’ll be less time consuming. There’s nothing worse than glitter gluing a scale model of the U.S. Senate at 3 AM because you thought it would be quick and easy.

21. That extra 10 minutes of sleep is not worth the risk of oversleeping completely. Get up, splash your face with some cold water, and get this show on the road.

22. Find a school inspiration, whether it be a really hardworking friend or a studyblr you follow. Check their progress whenever you need motivation.

23. If someone only ever talks to you when they need to copy the homework, they’re using. Don’t indulge them.

24. Doing your own work is so SO important. Plagiarism can destroy careers.

25. Creative outlets can be so refreshing, like a diary, a private tumblr, a sketchbook, whatever floats your boat.

26. When all else fails, remember how lucky you are to be getting an education. School isn’t a punishment, its an opportunity for you to create a kick-ass foundation for the rest of your life. 

[eruhdit-blog]

#masterposts

[everything-studyblr]

1. It’s getting tougher, but you can do this. Now is the time to push through. Now is the time to really fight and show yourself you can do this. Because you can, and you will. 2. Don’t hide your books, put them on your desk where you can see them so you’ll be reminded that you need to study. 3. If you can’t study at home, pack your books and go to that cute coffee shop you like so much. Sit in a quiet corner, order some tea and finish that essay. 4. Your mental health is just as import as your physical health. Take care of yourself. 5. Make a study schedule and write down everything you have to do for each class. 6. Don’t panic. If you get overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you still need to study for, take a deep breath. There’s nothing you can’t do. Take a look at your schedule and write down what takes the most and least time to do and prioritize it. 7. If it feels like the school days are getting longer and your weekend seems to be getting shorter; make plans on school days to get you excited to get up in the morning. Make plans to go bowling or get some drinks with friends, do whatever makes you want to get out of bed. You don’t have to wait for the weekend. 8. Cramming a few days before a big test and getting sleep deprived is the absolute worst and so unnecessary. Take one or two hours each weekend to go over what you learned in class that week. By the time exams come around you’re prepared and well rested. 9. Everyone has an attention span of approximately 40 to 60 minutes. So push yourself harder sometimes and slow yourself down. Take breaks when needed, be realistic. 10. Don’t just look at all the work that’s still ahead of you. Take some time to celebrate the things you never thought you’d finish, but did. The boring essays, horrible presentations, difficult exams. You survived all of it and you’ll survive this too. I’m proud of you, and so should you. Keep it up, baby.

10 steps on how to survive another year of school. // pt. 1 (via everything-studyblr)

[horizontalcool]

my college experience- post 1

Hi, my name is Nikki. 

I started this studyblr right before my senior year in my undergrad. First off, having a studyblr and maintaining it was quite fun, but I forgot about it most of the time. Well, forgot about tumblr really.

As of today it’s been two months (holy fuck) since I’ve graduated from college. So I guess my first post in this little series of blog posts I’ll be sharing is- plans for myself; post-grad. med school?

Personally, I don’t want to move back in with my parents and live back in the place that I grew up. There’s nothing wrong with any of this, but I’d be back to my old self- someone who was afraid to reach out of her comfort zone, and I’d be taking a million steps back from how much I’ve progressed the past four years in college. 

I knew I had to find something for me straight out of college- or in my case, three months after graduation. My motivation was that I didn’t want to be back in my hometown. Luckily for me, my supervisors from my jobs at school recommended me to apply for these volunteer service programs that are year long commitments. I thought- “woah, this is perfect. I’d get first hand experience in the medical field and live out of state!” (side note: I’ve got a huge case of wanderlust and my goal in life is to live in at least 5 different states and 2 different countries, so this was perf for me). I applied to two programs and got into both. Choosing was difficult and took me a while to confirm my placement between the two. Fast forward, I got an offer to work as a wellness coordinator at a family clinic in St. Louis, MO and I’ll be making my way out there in two weeks (oh my).

I chose to go into these programs because honestly, I’m really tired of school. Don’t get me wrong, learning is so much fun to me, but being ridiculed of my intelligence because I can’t grasp concepts as quickly as others, or to constantly be in a competition to see who would get a better grade, or always being in fear of failing and retaking my classes (trust me, that happened a lot) was so fucking draining. I was honestly burned out by my sophomore year because of my academic load so these past two years were rough for me. So, I’m in desperate need of a break. Plus, I never really got a chance to shadow and volunteer to really see if pursuing medicine is what I want to do. Med school, however, is still on the back of my mind or possibly getting my MPH in grad school. I’m 22 and I’ve still got a long way to go and a lot of time to decide. 

Ok, since this first post is about my post grad plans, I think my next post will be what it’s like to be a science major/staying in the school of science.

xo,

Nikki