Students and faculty discuss stress, cramming

Cramming tests, papers, presentations and the rest is not a scarce preparation item on the produce aisle of college work. How to survive the stress of finals is a question that college students have to face this time of year.

“The problem is students are stupid and don’t know how to live right,” said Eastern professor Dr. Wood Bouldin.

According to Bouldin, student sleep deprivation dawned in the Middle Ages. Then, as electricity became more available, students would stay up later and later to cram for tests. Bouldin attributes the stress to a lack of preparation on the students’ part. Once students reach the high demanding halls of college, they are overwhelmed.

Also, Bouldin added that having a job is another thing that hinders the learning process of many students.

“I love Eastern students, but the overall funding problem of America’s schools should be fixed so students can get a full education without a job tiring them out,” he said.

Sophomore Scott Rudy admitted he has had two all-nighters this semester already because he had two papers to do at the same time. He had some advice for students.

“My thinking is if you don’t have to cram, study well. Balance is key here. Not too much and not too little. Just enough,” Rudy said.

“Use your resources. One is Jesus. Praying to him is good. Coffee and tea will do you fine also, but not soda.”

Junior Matt Tapscott has had a total of five to eight all-nighters his entire college career due to writing papers and studying for tests.

“You should have been studying already. Jesus would study before his finals,” Tapscott said.

Junior Joia Harvey adds a creative step when she has to cram.

“Movement is a must after an hour or so of absolute concentration. I usually get up, turn some music on and dance,” Harvey said.

“I once finished a ten-page paper the day it was due for my anthropology class. I went to bed at 11 p.m. and woke at 2 a.m. with a mug of coffee by my side,” she added.

“I am a victim, not a procrastinator,” said junior Michelle Lunetta. “I have to pull myself away from the dorms to do some hard studying. Often, but not always, like a luminous cloud, bad luck strikes when it comes time to hand things in. A good example would be printer failure.”

Bouldin did have one idea that would make the learning process easier for students:

“We need to have students rob themselves of televisions, CD players and cell phones till they are sitting around, energy-filled, with nothing to do but learn.”