Covenant students have officially reached the halfway point for the fall semester. Some are excited, while others may be dreading the increase in course work as midterms continue, assignments increase, and finals loom ever closer. During an intense semester, it’s important to remain grounded, taking time to relax and de-stress while still remaining diligent and motivated to finish the semester strong.
I had the opportunity to interview some students to hear how they felt at this point in the semester. Most of them expressed the sentiment that it feels unreal to be halfway through. “It feels like yesterday I was moving in and somehow I’m already taking midterms,” Stephanie Smole ’24 said. Promise Igbanu ’22 is glad to be halfway through but is anticipating the workload to increase as we grow closer to finals.
For many of us, this increase in assignments also means an increase in stress, so I was curious to hear how these students were handling this stress and what they were doing to relax amid this busy season. Rest, exercise and intentional fellowship were common answers. Mallory Harmon ’21 said she relaxed by “hiking and making sure to regularly spend time with friends.” Smole said she makes sure to “prioritize the things she loves,” and not to neglect social time with friends.
A few students discussed how planning helps to relieve stress. Harmon advised keeping track of events and assignments through Google Calendar, while Igbanu discussed how helpful it is to sit down on Sundays and plan out the week. A few of them also noted the importance of knowing your boundaries.
“I’m learning to say no to things when I’m too tired or have too much work, but also pushing myself out of my comfort zone to hang with new people,” said Caroline Barker ’24. Smole also emphasized the ability of Scripture to sustain and encourage us, recommending that students read a psalm or Bible verse before going to bed.
Even with numerous assignments and stressful workloads, students are making time for leisure activities. They appreciate the ability of fun outings for relieving stress. Many of the students I interviewed had plans for enjoying the autumnal weather by taking hikes, watching the sunset and even going apple picking.
Students also mentioned some fun activities to do specific to the Lookout Mountain area in order to take advantage of what the area has to offer. Harmon recommended visiting The Hot Chocolatier in Chattanooga or grabbing ice cream at the Ice Cream Show and going for a walk on the bridge downtown. Igbanu raved about a restaurant in Fort Oglethorpe called Soho Hibachi where he said you could get cheap, quality food that lasts a few days, a perfect combination for college students. He also recommended taking a trip to the hang gliding spot off of Scenic Highway, to simply sit and enjoy the view.
“Find a nice place to watch the sunset,” Kendre Beatty ’24 suggested, “It’s really relaxing to watch.”
While it's important to have fun and relax, we also need to stay motivated and finish the second half of the semester strong. Igbanu discussed how giving thanks for the opportunity to be here and remembering his end goal and original reasons for pursuing a college education is “motivation in itself.”
Harmon recommended studying with friends and encouraging each other as well as reaching out to professors when struggling. Smole again pointed to the importance of Christ and community. She said she was motivated by “keeping my eyes on God and linking arms with my friends. Together, we got this.” Keep up the great work, Scots! We’re halfway there!