Counsellor says seek help when overwhelmed by stress

BRANDI DOUCETT
LIFE REPORTER

Students need to develop strategies for studying and coping with the stress of exams, said a Humber counsellor.

Second-year health and fitness students study for a midterm in the North Campus library. (By Brandi Doucett)

Liz Sokol, at counselling services, said the pressure of midterms can exacerbate the on-going stress in students’ lives.
“We can teach students how to relax and discover the cause of their anxiety, whether that be academics or not,” said Sokol.
“Stress is like pouring water into a glass – if you keep adding water, the glass will eventually over flow.”
Meagan Cooper, 21, a first-year visual and digital arts student, said she uses repetition and mnemonics, rhymes that help you remember things, to study for exams.
“Last semester I left studying to the last minute and after getting my marks back, I knew I could have done better,” said Cooper.
“I learned that I needed to use specific strategies to help me do well on my exams.”
Cooper said it has taken her a few exam periods to figure out the strategies which work well for her.
Peer services facilitator Nicollette Sarracini said the peer tutoring office becomes busy right before midterms and final exams.
“If we’re unable to accommodate students before midterms then we try to set them up with a tutor afterwards on a more regular basis for the rest of the semester,” said Sarracini.
“It’s so important for students to identify when they are feeling unsure or foggy in a course and act on it right away.”
She said students need to take ownership of the fact they are struggling and realize they need help.
“Sometimes the hardest part is just taking that first step and realizing you need a peer tutor or that you need to meet with a counsellor,” said Sarracini.
Sokol said it is never too late to speak with a counsellor, even at the end of the semester.