@ www.theotherpress.ca News Stressed for finals? Follow these tips for a less stressful exam experience By Maria Asselin-Roy, News Editor stress-free college student. While it seems that everyone is naturally more stressed out than usual during finals, a re-evaluation of what needs to be done and some basic organizational skills can cut down your stress level immensely. While many people feel they need to memorize each of their notes, chapters, and words spoken by their professor— don’t obsess! According to Mangrum-Strichart Learning Resources, it’s best to review your notes without letting them consume you. Obsessively studying for days and days, memorizing every detail, and |: s hard to come across a management. Many students claim that the hardest part of studying for finals is getting started, so organizing your study time and fitting it into your schedule so that you know when to do what will ensure that you have enough time to go over all of the material. For example, if you have two tests in the next week, plan to take two hours each day to review (one hour for subject A and one hour for subject B). While studying, don’t forget to take breaks. While this may not always be possible, going outside for 10 minutes, checking Facebook, or lying down after every hour or so gives the brain a rest and helps you keep more focused while doing your work. “According to a lecture from the University of Toronto's Robert Buckman, stress is contagious—but one way to avoid stress is to avoid studying with others who can make studying stressful.” underestimating your ability to do well can cause you to overreact about receiving a desired test score. Studies show that these overzealous techniques add extra unnecessary stress to an already hectic life—those that use these tactics will probably lose sleep, spend less time eating healthy foods, and getting daily exercise. Instead of panicking, try to regain your perspective. Although it is crucial to put in review time, do not stress about the little details right away. Since final exams usually focus on key concepts, it’s a good idea to memorize and understand the big ideas first. Once you have an understanding of the main concepts, you can move onto less important details like dates, little known names, etc. Another important factor in studying for exams is time Another way to reduce your finals stress is to avoid stressful people. According to a lecture from the University of Toronto’s Robert Buckman, stress is contagious—but one way to avoid stress is to avoid studying with others who can make studying stressful. Forming study groups with motivated and organized people will help you enter the exam with a more calm and relaxed mindset. Finally, right before your exam, make sure you get enough sleep (eight hours) and eat something healthy. Excess sugar can make you crash; instead, go for foods such as granola bars, cereal, or fruits and veggies to keep your blood sugar stable. Visualize the exam going well to boost confidence, and if you have studied all you can—you’re as prepared as you will ever be. NASA launches Mars rover ‘Curiosity’ The search for water on Mars continues By Tim Ryckman t exactly 10:02 a.m. ET A: Saturday November 26, NASA launched “Curiosity”—the agency’s newest and most technologically advanced $2.5-billion planetary rover—into the sky above Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. of Mars. Curiosity is also looking for evidence of organic carbon— the basis for all life on earth—as its presence would further the possibility of sustaining humankind from another planet in the future. Curiosity is the largest space rover ever sent to Mars. Weighing in at about 3,000 pounds, it is five times larger and twice as long as “Powered by a nuclear-driven electrical device, Curiosity will be exploring and studying a five-kilometre high mound of sediment - found at Gale’s centre in an attempt to discover more about the Martian environmental history and any more potential it might have to support life.” The launch marked the first stage of the car-sized rover’s 570-million kilometre, eight-and-a- half-month journey that will find it landing on Mars in August 2012, where it will spend 687 earth days exploring a large Mars crater called Gale. Powered by a nuclear-driven electrical device, Curiosity will be exploring and studying a five- kilometre high mound of sediment found at Gale’s centre in an attempt to discover more about the Martian environmental history and any more potential it might have to support life. Orbiting space crafts have spotted what looks like clay and sulphates near the base of the mound; because these substances need water to form, researchers hope to find evidence that water has flowed on or near the surface the previous twin rovers, “Spirit” and “Opportunity,” which landed in 2004. Curiosity has been packed with 17 cameras and 10 of the most advanced technological planetary research devices ever sent into space, including seven-foot long robotic arm equipped with a two-inch drill that is capable of drilling deep into Martian rocks. With these tools, the rover is capable of collecting and analyzing soil samples (previous Mars rovers were unable to take samples) in its integrated chemistry lab and blasting rock with its laser to look for carbon-based molecules. NASA has been working on this project since 2003. The original launch date for Curiosity was 2009, but due to complications, the launch was extended by two years— causing a 56 per cent rise in the overall cost of the project. Student Ambassadors set to spread holiday cheer Dec 1 By Naomi Ambrose he Douglas College Student Ambassadors will be spreading some holiday cheer on Thursday, December 1 from 10 a.m. _ to 3:30 p.m. in the concourse at the New estminster campus, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the atrium at the David Lam campus. Students will receive free candy canes and chocolates, and can get a chance to win prizes in the Candy Cane Count Contest and from the Prize Wheel. Students can also enjoy other activities such as making a wish under the Christmas Tree, shooting the Grinch with nerf guns, colouring Christmas pictures, and taking photos with Santa. Come by to check it out!