4B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GRADUATION
MONDAY,MAY 5,2003
Stress common around graduation time
Bv Dani Litt
Photo illustration by Aaron Showalter/Kensan
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
Graduation weighs heavy on the minds of seniors. Stress often increases as the year ends and students try to juggle studies, graduation, the job search and other responsibilities that arise at the end of one's college career
Finals, graduation, job searching, moving. Is there anything else that seniors could worry about at this time of year?
"Many seniors have stress around finals and end of semester projects," said Bill Smith, health educator at Watkins Memorial Health Center. "Time management is a huge issue when dealing with stress because students are involved in so many different things."
On the other hand, some seniors are not as affected.
For students who don't balance time as well, there are other ways to reduce stress levels during these last few weeks of the semester.
"The more time you think about it, the more time that you have to worry," said Adam Nadler, Weston, Fla., senior. "I just make a to-do list and tell my friend what I need to get done."
In order to manage her stress,
Mandy German, Johnson senior.
"Students need to maintain a level of physical activity, get at least six to eight hours of sleep and eat a well-balanced diet," Smith said. "Stay away from sugars and caffeine, because caffeine is a stimulant and it amplifies feelings of anxiety rather than reduces them."
takes time out of her day for herself.
"It gets to the point where you almost have to ignore everything, and if you have to, schedule an hour to watch your favorite TV
German said she had a few of her hometown friends visit her this past weekend.
show so you won't think about other things," German said.
"It helped bring me back down to reality," German said. "It helped me realize that I am not going to melt into a puddle and that I just have to take it one day at a time."
For more information on how to manage stress, call Counseling and Psychological Services at 864-2277.
- Edited by Anne Mantey
LONG-TERM WAYS TO HANDLE STRESS
Seek your own stress level.
Strive for excellence within
your limits.
Choose your own goals.
Don't live out choices
others have made for you
Become part of a support system. Look out for yourself by letting friends help you when you are under too much stress and by helping when they are overloaded.
Think positive. Your mind sends signals to your body to prepare for danger whenever you think about possible negative outcomes, and you become tense regardless of whether the event happens
Take time for yourself;
make yourself your priority.
Find time to relax every day
— even if only for a few
minutes.
Take care of your health. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep and avoid alcohol and mood-altering drugs.
Live in the present. Learn from the past and move on.
Source: American College Health Association pamphlet. "Stress in College: What Everyone Should
Know."
Graduates to face busy weekend with multiple ceremonies planned
By Mindy Osborne
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
For graduates this spring, one ceremony is just not enough, at least according to various schools and departments at the University.
In a tradition that was first started by the engineering school
in 1987, separate ceremonies will be held throughout the weekend leading up to graduation.
Ann Phillips, director of academic services for the School of Engineering, said the ceremonies allowed for the students to be more fully recognized for their accomplishments than they would be at the large ceremony at
Memorial Stadium. Students typically dress in graduation regalia for their school and department ceremonies. Awards are given out to students and faculty, outstanding students will speak.
Some ceremonies include a speaker. The School of Business will have a distinguished guest, Vernon Smith, and a distinguished alumnus. Michael Beatty.
The School of Journalism will have the vice provost for scholarly support, Don W. Steeples.
Kristy Maharay, Kansas City senior, is a journalism student who will be attending her ceremony, which starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May17.
"I think by the end of the four
years, everyone feels like a family." she said. "You know all of the professors and students and what everyone went through to get there. That's why I think it makes it a little more meaningful than just the regular ceremony on Sunday."
But for Erin McCall, a Tulsa, Okla., senior in microbiology, other activities take precedence
over a departmental ceremony.
Biological Sciences will be holding a recognition of honors at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17, but McCall said she didn't have much interest in attending.
"The one at Memorial Stadium is just fine," she said.
Edited by Leah Shaffer