Ask the Advisor

Last week, while enjoying lunch at my favorite Kirkwood restaurant, I overheard a student at the next table telling his friend he would not be in class that afternoon because he had an advising appointment. This worries me. I know I have been pushing the importance of academic advising, but it's NOT more important than going to class. I can't think of any issue that is so important it can't wait until after class. If your schedule is such that it seems impossible to work in an appointment during your advisor's office hours, e-mail or call your advisor. I think, if we had to, most of us would be willing to work out alternate arrangements with you (but don't expect us to be available from midnight to 4:00 a.m.). We do want to see you, but we don't want you to miss out on any classroom experiences.\nNow that the cinders have settled on the track for another year and we approach Finals Week, I thought I should offer a few helpful tips for managing the end of the semester. (I know you probably already know all this stuff, but it never hurts to be reminded of these things.)\nTake care of yourself. A healthy mind and body will allow you to do your best on a final exam or paper. A body that is deprived of good sleep and proper nutrition will fail to get out of bed on time or will crash just when you need to be at peak performance.\nRelated to this, be sure to manage your stress levels in these last few weeks. It's not helpful to freak out about the end of the term. If you have any worries, talk with your instructors or advisor about what's going on. Be sure to take some time out for yourself. The Health Center offers some guidance on this issue online at www.indiana.edu/~caps/flyers/strestec.html. \nPlease don't do the all-night cram thing. We all know it's more harmful in the long run.\nEnjoy the fantastic weather we will have, but don't use it as an excuse to avoid your academic responsibilities. Balance your need for fun and relaxation with your need to accomplish your academic goals.\nThe Student Academic Center offers some useful and practical and free workshops for helping you make the most of the end of the semester. My favorite title is "Catching Up in a Course When All Hope Seems Gone." What an inspiring lifeline to find, if you need it. You can also learn to manage stress and beat test anxiety. See the schedule at www.indiana.edu/~sac. \nAnd finally, let's remember we're all under a bit more stress as we wrap things up for the year. It's important for us all to be a little more patient, a little more forgiving, and a little more understanding. Let's be good to each other. I challenge each of you to smile at someone you don't know this week and say, "Good luck on the rest of the semester"