Hey Q-mmunity! Letter from the Editor...

Christine Kulick

MY KNEE SURGERY IS DECEMBER 11th, WISH ME LUCK!  

It's that time of the year again. That dreaded word that so many students just do not want to hear. That word that is coming up for the first time since last year. I'm pretty sure you have guessed by now that this word is FINAL. To a better degree...FINALS. Yes, it is plural. Not only do we have multiple finals, we have multiple finals in one day over the course of multiple days. Confusing huh? In light of this situation, I decided to make, what I believe, is a list of all essentials needed to survive the attack of finals amongst our student population.

1. You must have a comfortable outfit for studying. If you are not comfortable you will most likely focus all your possible energy on the fact that you can't breathe because your jeans are too tight or that shirt doesn't fit correctly.

2. Always bring every book, all notes, and study guides from EVERY class to the library. Sometimes you will get sick of a subject and need a quick transition to another just to keep your incredibly boring studying amusing.

3. Keep your laptop at home or use it only in dire need. I know that you all get distracted easily by myspace/facebook etc. It's best to just leave it atleast 10 miles away from you. We must fight the urge to get online and get lost!

4. You must always have a more than one pen or pencil by your side. I know for me my freshman year, I would be at the library and my only pencil would be out of lead or I would lose it somehow and have to find another one. Then, you spend extra time walking around asking the other stressed out students for an extra pencil or you disrupt them with the pencil sharperner that is attached to the wall therefore causing them to now become stressed out, annoyed students studying for finals.

5. TAKE BREAKS! I'm sorry but you can study for hours and read the same sentence five hundred times and not get anywhere. BREAKS ARE THE KEY! Take your mind off the subject and go dance, run, watch a short Tv show (Key word: SHORT)

6. HYDRATE and EAT! Ok, so that sounds amazing I know, but literally snacks and drinks can keep you focused. I like having a bottle of water and take a drink after every page I finish reading or writing. Or, eating a goldfish after every flashcard I get right. (Yes I am a geek).

7. HAVE A GOOD PLAYLIST. I'm a big believer in inspirational music. Right now I have many playlists labeled "INSPIRATION CAUSE YOU NEED IT" haha. Good music....Good mood...GREAT RESULTS.

8. Make sure to have all your syllabi with you! There is nothing worse than getting to the library and realizing you don't know the prompt for your final paper. Bring those syllabi!

9. Sandals. I don't know about you but if you sit down in a chair and get comfortable, you'll want to take your shoes off or slip out of them every now and then. The less distractions the better!

10. Finally.... RELAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stress will eat you alive. I'm the worst person to say this because I stress out way too easily but I'm learning to BREATHE!

I know there are so many more strategies and so many more survival tips out there. FIND THEM ALL! I know that these are the first finals of the new year and they can be stressful. Make a list of all you must do and do it! I have three pages taped on my mirror of my rendition of a "TO DO LIST"

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FINALS AND CONGRATS ON FINISHING THE FIRST SEMESTER! BE SAFE OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK AND HAVE A RELAXING TIME!

I am so thankful to be apart of the LGBT community and proud to work with such amazing people at SDSU. I am proud to be an Editor, a lesbian, an SDSU athlete, a daughter, a sister, a college student, a friend, and a teammate.

Comments? email lgbtrc.media@gmail.com