Print or clip out the illustration and create a drawing in the space provided. Bring it to AJ 278 by Thursday for a chance to win a prize!
At least 85 percent of college students said they feel stressed in their daily lives, according to a report from Health Central. With finals approaching, this number can only increase.
Psychology professor Jerrell Cassady said research shows that finals week is the time period for college students when anxiety has a large, negative impact on actual test performance.
To help relieve some of the stress that finals week presents, University Program Board is hosting an event called Paint Your Stress Away.
From 6 to 8 tonight in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom, students can pick from a variety of ceramic figures to decorate with paint. Snacks will be provided. The event is free for students and $1 for guests.
"Art has often been used as a mechanism to relieve stress," Cassady said.
He explained it provides a person with a simple, short-term escape. It is a chance for students to provide support to each other with the stress that comes with finals.
"I am a big fan of short-term activities that take you away from your study sessions," Cassady said. "This helps you recharge, and it also helps with the learning and memory."
It is very important for students to find release and disconnect for a short amount of time, he said. However, Cassady said it is important for students to balance their time well and not get caught up spending too much time doing their release activity. This occurs a lot throughout finals week because of the stress that studying itself provides, he said.
Even for those who study or teach art, painting can still help relieve stress.
"Making and studying art is my connection to life," said Scott Anderson, an associate professor of art. "It informs everything I do."
Anderson uses many different techniques to relieve himself from stress. These techniques consist of painting, walking the dog, taking deep breaths and looking at the stars.
"Whenever I make the time, painting and drawing always makes me come alive and feel more centered so I do it as frequently as possible," he said.
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Both Anderson and Cassady have been students and have had their fair share of stress, they said.
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"Do your best, try your hardest, be responsible for your actions and be realistic and focus on what is important," Anderson said.
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In addition to painting, Cassady explained many different techniques a student could use to help themselves cope with the stresses of finals week.
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First, take some time for yourself, he said. Get some rest, eat well and have some time to yourself to blow off steam. Cassady said research shows students are likely to get sick throughout finals week.
Second, have a plan. Schedule and plan your study sessions and activities of that week so they are manageable, he said.
Last, be active in your preparation. Do not just look at notes and turn pages in the book but create new notes while you study.
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