Stress In College

Im never going to be able to go to sleep

Stress is something everyone will experience sometime in their life. It seems like everyone around me is stressing out over deadlines that need to be meet while trying to balance having a part-time job and being a full-time student. According to the 2015 National College Health Assessment, 30% of students reported that stress had negatively affected their academic performance within the past year, and over 85% had felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do at some point within the past year. In this post I will describe four things freshman stress over and how they overcame it. 

1) GPA 

This is the most talked about topic on campus. Every student dreams of having a GPA of 4.0 because this will make their parents very proud when they go home for winter break. This will allow for endless bragging on social media. But a GPA of a 4.0 is not realistic for the average student. This is something that one must work very hard for. The first semester I was shy of .02 points from having a GPA that qualified me for making the deans list. I then thought about my sleep deprivation where I spent hours studying and how I typed long papers and tried my best to alway be on top. I feel as I am always competing with myself to be a better. If I received a 95 on an English paper I wanted to know what I did wrong and what can I do in the future. I know I can be hard on myself at times but .02 points more would have been lovely so I could have been recognized for my academic accomplishments. I think students like myself are thinking so much about a grade and not enough about if they are absorbing the information. With my gpa I have learned not  to let it define who I am. I am more that the number on my transcript. I am an intelligent young woman that is hungry for knowledge and wishing to be the best nurse one day. 

2) How to get through Midterm Week 

 Lisseth Naranjo, a freshman nursing student said midterm week was the most stressful week. It was her first time taking midterms and she was overwhelmed with all the material she needed to memorize for her science courses. Naranjo stated "I found myself staying up longer than usual because I wanted to make sure I knew everything I learned during the semester." I then asked her how did she study and she stated she looked over her notes little by little so it would be easier to relearn the information. But even though she made efforts to study little by little she found herself having to go over the material numerous times so she had a full understanding. For Naranjo's Anatomy lab her professor did not provide the class with detailed instruction on how to prepare for the practical exam. She was afraid of the unknown. She was not sure what information she would be tested on and that made her stress out by staying up longer than normal. The director of the Growth and Purpose for Students program at Belmont University, David Sneed, said that for many students, “it’s the unknown” that brings stress to their lives.

3) How to manage your time 

Another reason students are stressed in college is because of not being prepared in high school. Jennifer Moran a freshman student said she does not believe her teachers helped her get the skills she needed to be successful. Throughout her first semester she had to learn the significance of time-management. She needed to balance studying, sleeping and socializing with other students on campus. She stated that she found herself cramming for exams and when she reflected on what she did for the week and said she spent a lot of time napping as well as hanging with friends. She underestimated how much time she needed to dedicate to her studies. She developed a schedule that would utilize her weekends to begin assignments due for the upcoming week. She purchased a planner that she would record exams, her designated study days. This enabled her to get everything done quicker which allowed her to go to sleep at a reasonable time as well as plan exciting and fun filled weekends with her friends. Jennifer Moran is just one student that learned the significance of time management. 

4) How to register for classes 

Registration is a very stressful week in college because you want to have the perfect schedule which enables you to have the easiest teacher so you can have an A. This is what students always look for when making their schedule. When I made my schedule I used RateMyProfessor.com to see what students said about these professors when they took one of their classes. These evaluations including a rating on a scale from 1-5 which describes the teachers teaching techniques, work load and grading. The website states its mission is  "To inform college students, by college students. Choosing the best courses and professors is a rite of passage for every student, and connecting with peers on the site has become a key way for millions of students to navigate this process. The site does what students have been doing forever - checking in with each other – their friends, their brothers, their sisters, their classmates – to figure out who's a great professor and who's one you might want to avoid." After making the perfect schedule you will wait for your day and time. Fortunately  my registration date was the second day of registration week. When I opened up Pace portal on Tuesday April 19, 2016 I was eager to not have night classes and Fridays off. But unfortunately my original schedule and  the back up schedules I had prepared to enter were full. My roommate Kendra Dawson a freshman nursing student has her registration Wednesday April 20th, 2016. Her odds of getting all the classes she wants is slimmer than the chances I had. She stressed out and had to change her original schedule four times. During her schedule time, I watched as she swiftly keyed in the CRN (course numbers). Once she pressed I agree at the bottom of the web page for the fourth time she was finally finished with registration. Her schedule is packed with classes back to back with professors that are unknown. This will be a challenge for her next semester but I believe she will continue to do great things.  

There are many factors that affect students daily life. This can get them overwhelmed and cause stress which can affect academic success. Luckily the students I interviewed were able to find ways to turn something bad into something good and manageable. I have even learned a thing or two from these individuals and I am glad that I will be able to spread there knowledge with you. 
















Works Cited
http://college.usatoday.com/2015/10/29/college-student-stress/
Kendra Dawson, personal interview, 11 April 2016
Jennifer Moran, personal interview, 13, April 2016 
Lisseth Naranjo, personal interview, 13, April 2016 
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/About.jsp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYdLlUVd8C0

Sex ??

Sex on a College Campus

Lets talk about sex.. This is something everyone is talking about but is this something everyone is doing ??

I surveyed 40 studnets in the cafeteria on March 31st what comes to mind when you think about sex on campus. 83% said that everyone is partaking in this activity. I then asked these students how do they know and the majority said its the "college lifestyle." I then thought about the stereotypical college experience you see on television and in movies. Students change their physical appearance and even personality to fit in with the status quo. They even participate in risky behavior including taking drugs and consuming alcohol, which leads to sex. The movie "The To Do List" is a movie set in 1993 where a high school graduate tries to get rid of her good girl image by losing her virginity so she can fit in before going to college in September. This is one movie about the stereotypes these students are aware and believe to be true. 

I asked students how do they meet people to hookup with. A freshman student said within the first week of school you know how to get to your classes, where all the parties are, who the cutest guys are on the football team and how to hookup with a complete stranger because of the app "Yik Yak."
A freshman female stated she believes this is a scary way to meet someone because the app is completely anymous and you never know what your "signing up for". After someone comments under a persons sex request shortly after someone posts their "Kik" name which is a texting app. This is usually a short conversation and leads to the two hanging out and participating in drinking alcohol. On the Pace University website it states  "Inappropriate use and abuse of alcohol is often associated with lower academic performance and failures, sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, vandalism, aggressive behaviors including sexual assault and rape, injuries, death, and prosecution for crimes related to the consumption of alcohol" You never want to get drunk with a stranger, one reason is because you never know their intentions. STDs are a major thing especially on college campuses.

STI's/ STD's 

I know you are probably wondering what are STIs/STDs and how can I prevent myself from coming in contact with one. According to American Sexual Health Association sexually transmitted infections/ diseases, or STI/STD affect people of all ages and backgrounds. In the U.S. there are approximately 20 million new cases each year, about half of which occur among youth ages 15-24 years. This is between the years an individual is enrolled in college. Diseases that are spread through sexual contact are usually referred to as sexually transmitted diseases or STDs for short. However in recent years experts in  public health have suggested replacing STD with a new term—sexually transmitted infection, or STI. Sexually transmitted viruses or bacteria can be described as creating an “infection,” which may or may not result in “disease.” This is true for a few STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and human papilloma virus (HPV) they are all curable, Not all STI's are curable therefore you should ALWAYS use a condom. 

Importance of Condoms

 A freshman female said she was afraid to live on campus because of shows and news articled that come out everyday about STDs on the rise. The safest way to protect yourself is not to participate in this behavior. But as young adults with ranging hormones it might be hard to resist.  Therefore if you do partake in this activity you should use a condom. 
As one male student bought a pack of Trojan condoms I asked him why he bought them. He instantly laughed and said "I have to protect my ting, you can't trust these h*es."I laughed and thought this is a great mentality to have. According to Huffington Post, the condom maker Trojan ranks 140 colleges and universities to see what schools promote safe sex. (Svokos) Pace University was not listed in the 10 step but recently they have made efforts to promote safe sex for the LGBT community. There was a safe sex event where condoms were distributed and vibrators were raffled off. This was one initiative for the university to educate their students about protection as well as sex awareness. Another way Pace promotes sex awareness is by taking trips to the Museum of Sex in NYC for a small fee of $5. The mission of the Museum of Sex is to preserve and present the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality. With each exhibition, the museum addresses a wide range of topics, while simultaneously highlighting material and artifacts from different cultures, time periods and media.




A sophomore female stated she hooked up with a random guy on campus and had an STI scare. Thankfully she only had a UTI but she said at the time she was scared and didn't know what to do. Her roommate informed her that she should go to the health center on campus. The Health Center on campus is a service that is included in your bill so when you visit there is no charge. This is an amenity that is great not just because of her situation but those days that you are not feeling well and need to be prescribed a medication. 

Sex Awareness

One male student said he does not use condoms because he finds it less pleasurable. When asked if he knows the risks of having unprotected sex he stated "That could not be me." This is a statement that everyone seems to think. But why do people feel they are exempt and have fewer risks? This is actually unknown why some people think they have less chances of  transmitted a disease sexually. But I think one reason is because if you have sex with someone you love you respect or trust to will care less to wrap it up. You have to go into every situation not having a bias on people and think of everyone as dirty. This is similarly to what nursing students are told in clinicals, "every body fluid that you come in contact with you should be prepared and care for it with precaution." Condom availability in places of need around the world is increasing significantly, with 25.8 million female condoms provided through international and nongovernmental funding sources in 2009. Condom distribution increased by 10 million between 2008 and 2009. On campus students are allowed to purchase condoms in Miller Mart (an eating option in the building there are classes) with your meal plan. There are always condoms available an`d people seem to actually buy them for their own use.

Works Cited 
Dobbs, Kori Sex Survey, March 31st 2016
Female, personal interview, 31 March 2016
Male, personal interview, 31 March 2016
http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/ 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/sexual-health-report-card-2014_n_5985520.html
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/ten-little-known-facts-about-condoms-planned-parenthood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKGigK17eSs

Money 101

Money in college is hard to come by therefore you need to save or find a part time job to get by. There will be unexpected things you want to do including go to a party, buy a new outfit for a sorority or fraternity recruit dinner or order food from dominos because you are tired of the cafeteria food. You will need money for all of these because asking mom and dad all the time is not showing them how your become independent. I hope you find my ten tips helpful and are able to use them to your own benefit. 

How to Get Money:

1. Get a Part-time Job-

This can be on campus or off campus. I am currently looking for employment which is hard in Pleasentville, NY. There are not many places in town and local places are not hiring because they do no get many customers some of the places such as the many pizzerias , fro-yo places and Starbucks. But on campus jobs are perfect for employment if you have work study. The jobs I wanted I unfortunately didn't qualify for which was in Pace Perk and Pace Mart which are student run business which only employs business majors. I wanted these jobs because I enjoy jobs that deal with sales and provid customer service because I enjoy interactions with other people. There are other jobs in offices on campus but to me they are boring because filling paperwork and making copies is not exciting to me. But hopefully you have better luck with finding a job therefore I will provide the link: http://www.pace.edu/career-services/campus-student-jobs

2. Sell unwanted things on eBay- 

Before I went to college I sold a few unwanted pieces on e-bay and surprisingly they sold. On eBay's website they say how it is fast  and easy and can be achieved in three steps. 

Step 1: List it- It's easy as taking pictures, describing your item, setting the price and selling.
Step 2: Ship it- When your item sells, ship it to your buyer. Print with eBay labels and get discounts on shipping. ( You do not pay for shipping unless you want to. ) 
Step 3: Get paid- Its free to sign up for Paypal, the fast, easy and safe way to get paid on eBay.

I have always had a great experience using eBay and I created a Paypal account because I did not feel comfortable putting my credit card information in. Paypal is safe because if someone wanted to buy from you they send the money to your email address that you set up on Paypal. This then enables you to send it to your bank account or keep on Paypal which some stores and online websites allow you to use Paypal as an alternative payment. 
According to eBay the top 8 selling items are electronics in order: 1. Smartphones 2. Tablets 3. Cameras 4. Video Games 5. Game Consoles 6. Headphones & MP3 Players, 7. Laptops and last but not least 8. Anything
You can literally sell ANYTHING on eBay which is great because you can get cash FAST. 

3. Become a note taker- 

When students have a disability sometimes disability services will contact professors and ask for volunteers in the class to take notes or websites like StudySoup are outlets that are available for all students that want to get notes from a class. You can get paid as much as $300 + on your notes and study guides. This is in no way cheating or not allowed. 

How does this work? Three simple steps ( Don't you love how I break things down? )

Step 1: Create a FREE StudySoup Account 

Step 2: Upload your notes, study guides and set a price

Step 3: Open your online store and start selling

Unfortunately the classes I take this semester would not have helped me to become a successful notetaker because StudySoup recommends students that take lecture classes because there is more chances of your notes being bought. I take classes with class sizes ranging from 10-18 students so this outlet will not be beneficial for me. 

4. Sell Last Semester Books- 

DO NOT SELL YOUR BOOKS IN THE SCHOOL BOOKSTORE!! This is the biggest mistake I made last semester I purchased my English110  textbook for $50 and I only got $10 in return from selling it back to the Barnes and Nobles bookstore on campus. I expected to be refunded at least $35 dollars. Therefore at the end of this semester I am going to sell my books back on eBay, Amazon and or Chegg because I will profit more. Selling your old books are good because you can use the money to buy the materials and books you will need for the upcoming semester. 

5. Recycle- 

My roommates and I started recycling bottles and we are slowly getting money. I make sure that I get bottles that can be recycled because the water brand Smart Water can not be recycled in NY therefore I stick to Dasani and grocery store brands that can be recycled in NY. Each bottle you recycle you receive 5 cents, so for 20 bottles you will get $1.00. This is something quick and easy to get money because you are probably throwing away your cans and bottles when you can help the environment as well as get cash. 

How To Save Your Money: 

1.  Attend Events- 

On campus events typically have free food which is usually pizza or catered food from local restaurants wanting to get pubicilicity and spread awareness about their services. This is something I always take advantage of because the cafeteria food is not always appealing.Dominos is typical catered at events on campus because it is cheap and is not messy and everyone usually likes it, you can never go wrong with a chessy bread. 

2. Apply for scholarships-

Scholarships and grants are forms of aid  you do not have to repay them or earn the funds by working. Scholarships and grants are offered by Pace University itself, federal and state governments as well as private organizations. Choose from the list below learn more about the different types of scholarship programs available to Freshman, Transfer, and Graduate students.can save you thousands of dollars. At Pace University there are a variety of ways you can get money to pay for your tuition. You can get scholarships for practically anything. This is a link for more information on scholarships available at Pace University. http://www.pace.edu/financial-aid/content/scholarships-and-grants

3. Create a budget and stick with it- 

 This could help you avoid making careless purchases including online shopping ordering take out and parties, you need to keep track of your spending. Plus, it’ll help control what you’re spending your cash on. Because your funds are limited you want to save as much as you can. I have found this really helpful for me I plan every week how much I am going to spend and correspond with my mother and my bank account to ensure my account will have sufficient funds when I make my purchases. For example if I want to go to the city on a Saturday I know the Metro North is $20.50, then I will probably put $10 on my metro card, and ensure I have enough to eat out unless I ate prior to the trip and brought snacks. For a trip like this I would be $50-$60. But if I were to go with a friend that drives I would be able to save $20.50. You can create a FREE budget on excel and ensure your saving those coins :) 

4. Do Not Become A Taxi- 


If you own a car do not become a taxi driver for all your friends this will put a MAJOR hole in your pocket. Gas is not cheap and to fill up an average small car is about $30 to fill up a 12 gallon car. This can become a problem if you are low on cash. Pace University provides transportation into town where there are a few dining options as well as the train station. On your bill transportation is a mandatory fee which is about $200 that can not be waived. Therefore you should use the shuttle service because you are technically paying for it.

5. Use your meal plan- 

Yeah the cafeteria is not always that good and there isn't much of a variety because there is only one small cafeteria. At Pace University the basic meal plan is $1600 which rolls over ever semester. You can not get a refund for this money if you do not spend it all. So i suggest that you use the money and not get take out so you can save some cash for another time. 
My favorite thing to get from the cafeteria is a caesar salad and a mango-strawberry and banana smoothie. 

How to find a roommate you can get along with ?

Step 1:

You have to meet your roommate before you are able to get along with them. Therefore you should get the Schools App in your App store or Google Play so you can link up with other accepted students. If you want to pick your roommate rather than have a random assortment this is a perfect app to use. This app is linked with your Facebook profile so you can totally check out your roommates life. #Stalker #MakeSureTheyDontKillYou

Step 2: 

Find out your roommates email or cell phone number so you can form a relationship prior to moving into your dorm. This will be good so you can talk about your expectations for room duties as well as what you two will do with the shared space. When I found my three roommates we made a group chat and began chatting weekly. This helped make me become comfortable with living with strangers. I was not sure how living with roommates in a small space would be like because I never shared a room and love having "Kori Time". I know we all have those moments we want to be left alone. Like when you tell your younger sibling to leave your room because you want to have a private conversation on the phone or your overwhelmed and want to cry in private. I thought about all these things prior to going to college.

Step 3: 

The next step is to meet your roommates. This is a make or break it interaction. My roommates and I all signed up for the same orientation. Unfortunately one of my potential roommates could not attend the date we all chose and attended the one the week before. Because of this she met people at orientation and decided to room with them instead. I totally understood because  i wouldn't room with people I never met in person. Would you room with someone you never met? Did you not see the movie Roommate? Yeah that movie scared me so finding a roommate was my TOP PRIORITY!

Orientation (Left to Right Me, Kahya, Rosa)

Step 4: 

Once you get on campus you are on your own. No more mom or dad to cooking for you. Therefore your roommates are great to depend on. Going to the cafeteria alone can be pretty intimidating, so planning to go with them for meals is a great way to not only have people you know with you but also a way to get to know them more. Justin Todd a Freshman Nursing student stated that hanging out with his roommate on move in day at the Family BBQ helped build their relationship. He had never meet his roommate before so it was great they hit it off. He now says that his roommate Chris is a great friend.


These four steps will help you find a roommate but how do you get along with them? Well every relationship is different so there is no right or wrong way to make a friend or get along with a person. So you have to find out yourself. But I will leave you with some advice. Out of the thirty people I surveyed 66% of the students said they frequently argue about room chores. Alyssa Greco a freshman nursing student and her roommate Luzmary Ordonez also a freshman  nursing student said to ensure everyone in their suite knew there chores they printed a list of chores and put it above the sink to remind everyone of their weekly responsibilities. This limits the arguments about cleaning that they had the first semester. Their floor Resident Assistant (RA) Britney helped them come up with the idea to have a chore list, which they are grateful to have because their suite is well kept. There are chore templates free of purchase on google.

Basketball game with Mercedez

My Resident Assistant (RA) Mercedez Williams, stated that she enjoys being an RA in Alumni Hall because all of her residents are freshman and need more assistance than the other three dorm options. She stated "When I was an RA for the townhouses it wasn't a lot of fun because I had to do more disciplinary work with students, while in Alumni there is a greater range of assistance I can give to my residents." I have emailed her regarding numerous problems including how to get an on campus job, how to get involved on campus, and maintenance issues from cold showers to clogged sinks. She is always very nice and typically has her door open if any of her residents is in need. Building a close relationship with my RA was great because she emailed my roommates about weekly events on campus. My roommates and I even joined Black Student Union which my RA is the President for.

Black Excellence Dinner, February 27th 2016

Five Key Tips for Building A Great Relationship With Your Roommates:

1) Bonding-

This is the key to establishing and fostering a relationship with your roommates. My roommates and I tend to go to social events on campus together as well as eat meals with each other. This has helped my roommates and I develop our friendship and become aware of what we have in common. We all enjoy going to events with food,  and those that embrace our cultures, and empower woman.

2) Communication- 

This one is a given, if you do not talk to your roommates you will never be able to build a relationship. We also communicate in other ways, including on social media, and through text message. One important thing we talk about is the shower schedule at night so in the morning there isn't miscommunication on who's turn is next. My two roommates Kahya and Kendra typically shower at night leaving the shower free for me to shower early in the morning while my last roommate Rosa showers after me because she has a later class. If we didn't create this verbal agreement I would probably have problems going to class on time.

Casino Night in Kessel on Campus (Non-Alcoholic Drinks)

3) Be open to new things -

 My roommates and I all come from different backgrounds. Im from Albany, NY, my roommate Kendra is from Westchester, NY so she knows the area which was great for trying new restaurants. My suite mate Kahya is from New Jersey and her roommate Rosa is from Philadelphia. We all had different life experiences and we were able to teach each other about our cultures as well as what we were accustomed to. I only have one sister so living with three strangers is a completely different experience. My roommates and I recently signed up for Student of Caribbean Awarness (SOCA) fashion show to be models. We were all reluctant to do be in the show but because we were all asked we decided it would be fun to try something new together. This will be another memory for the memory jar.

4) Respect your roommates things-

It is never good to touch things that do not belong to you. This is one thing that arises problems. Channely Clark a freshman psychology student had a conflict with her roommate moving her belongings and not returning to there initial place. She stated " I found it difficult telling my roommate she couldn't borrow my things if she did not ask. Once I eventually talked to her about it she understood that she had to ask before eating my food, or using all my highlighters and not putting them back. Once we came to a common understanding e our relationship got better" I complete understood because I would be frustrated if  I purchased something for personal use and someone else took advantage of it and used it all.

5) Lastly respect your roommates sleep schedule.

 This is EXTREMELY important and I can not put enough emphasis on this. Sleep is something you need alot of in college, You  can rarely get it because you are busy doing homework, studying, trying to meet new people and attend weekly events. When someone in my room is sleeping I am mindful when I am talking on the phone and how loud my music is. I also know my roommates schedule and wake them up for there class so they are not late and they do the same for me.

I am glad of the relationship I have fostered with my roommates. It has helped me feel at home here at school. I have meet three new wonderful sisters that I can talk to, joke, laugh and be myself with.
 For more insight in my life here at Pace University, check out my latest Youtube video at Kori In The House.

Work Cited
(C. Clark, personal interview, February 20, 2016)
(M. Williams, personal interview, February 20, 2016)
(A. Greco, personal interview, February 10, 2016)
(L. Ordonez, personal interview February 10, 2016)
(J. Todd, personal interview , February 8, 2016)