Student Health Educators

Before the test:

· Be prepared. Study the material in advance; do not leave cramming for the day before your test. Do not do a last minute review.

· Get plenty of sleep. It is hard to function at your best when overtired.

· Avoid any use of drugs and alcohol. They can interfere with your mental ability.

· Exercise. This may help to increase your alertness and sharpen your mind.

· Have a moderate breakfast. Fresh fruits and vegetables help reduce stress; avoid caffeine, sugar and junk foods.

· Allow yourself plenty of time. Arrive at the test location early.

· Choose a seat where you will not be easily distracted.

· Use abdominal breathing to help reduce anxiety. Place one hand on your abdomen, right beneath your rib cage. Inhale through your nose and feel your abdomen fill like a balloon…count to three on your inhalation and then slowly exhale counting to four, feeling your abdomen contracting with the exhalation.

· Do a reality check. How important is this exam in the grand scheme of things? Put it in perspective.

· Use positive affirmations. Say a phrase to help keep things in perspective, “I’ve done this before, I can do it again.” or “I have all the knowledge I need to get this done.”

During the test take a few minutes to:

· Review the entire test. Read the directions carefully.

· Work on the easiest portions of the test first.

· Pace yourself. Do not rush through the test.

· If you go blank, skip the question and go on.

· Multiple choice questions: Read all the options first, eliminate the most obvious.

· Essay questions: Make a short outline. Begin and end with a summary sentence.

· Take short breaks, tense and relax your muscles throughout your body.

· Pause, do a few abdominal breaths, say your positive affirmation.

· Stay in the present moment.

· There is no reward for being the first done.

After the test, reward yourself:

· Try not to dwell on your mistakes.

· Indulge in something relaxing for awhile.

If these test taking anxiety strategies do not work for you, visit the counseling center or talk to someone else on campus such as your RC or a religous advisor!

Eat bananas, a teaspoon of honey, oats, and warm milk.

Remember: During finals period it’s important to get enough sleep and take care of your body.  Stay hydrated and try to eat healthy foods.  Late night snacks can keep you awake when you’re trying to sleep!Check back soon for more nutrition and sleep tips!

Watch this video celebrating the lowly condom:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTLj_3R0-2g

Check out this edition of Slate’s ”Hot Document” for some sweet ecards informing past partners that you have an STI and they should get tested.

Lately the Jolt has been seeing many questions regarding STI testing on campus.  The Health Education website has a wealth of information about STIs here.  If you would like to be tested come the health center and ask for an appointment.

Also on the Jolt, this thread about condomless sex.  We would add:

1.  Two methods of contraception always makes pregnancy less likely.
2. Birth control does not protect against STIs.
3. Before forgoing condoms make sure both you and your partner have been tested.
4. Ask yourself if you’re sure you and your partner are and will remain monogamous.  It is a lot easier to decide not to use condoms than it is to explain why you’d like to start using them again (without explaining that you’ve cheated).
5. Make sure that the desire to use condoms alone is a shared one, and not one partner ceding to the will of another.

We will have a second showing of Romancing the Jeff: Amherst Hooks up and Speaks Out on Friday, May 2nd at 8:00 PM in Stirn Auditorium.

We were incredibly lucky to have Catherine Sanderson join us for a discussion after the showing. A quick summary: Students in the audience expressed frustration with the lack of middle ground between hookups and relationships. They cited the school’s size as a road block to establishing a dating culture. The conventional wisdom seemed to be that at a large school you can ask someone out on a date and never see them again. Here, you’ll see them over and over again and relive the sting of rejection or embarrassment. Audience members argued going out on a date will immediately be perceived as a step towards a serious relationship. If that’s not what you want can you casually date here? The answer from several corners of the room was an absolute yes, if you’re willing to be open and honest about what you’re looking for.

So communication proved a sticking point. Communication and time. No one has enough time to be in a relationship. But as Catherine Sanderson pointed out, how many people do have the time to obsess and worry over going out on the weekend, dissecting a hookup, and avoiding awkwardness with that person they hooked up with or didn’t? Hooking up takes time, and unproductive, often negative time.

We’re very curious to hear community reactions to the film. Did it ring true to your experience with Amherst hookup/relationship culture? Was there something missing? Please comment and let us know. If you didn’t get a chance to come on April 17th please come to the second showing May 2nd at 8:00 in Stirn Auditorium.

The Student Health Educator/Peer Advocate film Romancing the Jeff: Amherst Hooks Up and Speaks Out will premiere Thursday, April 17th at 8:00 PM in Pruyne. Come see your fellow students discuss hookups and relationships on Campus!

The Student Health Educators are student employees of Health Education. Denise McGoldrick supervises our meeting and activities, which include workshops, condom distribution, Return to Childhood, tabling, etc. Most of our work is self-directed. If you are interested in nutrition for example you might create some literature on nutrition or edit the nutrition workshop. We believe that sexual respect is a health issue and as such we discuss not only STI prevention, but also how to get consent. We work closely with the Peer Advocates and their supervisor Gretchen Krull.

Our names are:
Griffin Biedron ‘08
Evan Braun ‘10
Anna Brenner ‘09
Taylor Brown ‘09
Estefania Colon ‘10
Mirah Curzer ‘08
Shiffen Getabecha ‘10
Jack Grein ‘09
Claire Holton-Basaldua ‘09
Ian Kalafatis ‘08
Kelly King ‘08
Catherine Lee ‘08
Mariana Palacios ‘09
Jennifer Rybak ‘10
Nazir Savji ‘08
Larry Thompson ‘10
Jill Whiting ‘10
Rachel Williams ‘10

With this blog we would like to answer health questions, address current health issues, and advertise Health Education events. Please let us know what you want from this blog by commenting on posts or by emailing any of our number.