Get ready for exams with these stress-busting events

Beat exam stress and focus on well-being at stress-busting events in Brantford and Waterloo Dec. 6.

Brantford: Keep Calm and Study On

Keep Calm and Study On, which started on Laurier’s Brantford campus, returns for its third year, bigger and better than before. Students can come out to the one-day event to get help preparing for exams, seek feedback as they finish up essays, get academic support or take a break from studying with one of the workshops on offer.

“We want to give students a place to go where they feel supported both in academics and wellness,” said Karley Doucette, writing and learning support coordinator. “The goal of Keep Calm and Study On is to provide students with an opportunity to connect with peers, work on assignments, and get academic support, but also to destress and tap into wellness supports, which are so important, especially during this stressful time of year.”

The event started when the writing and learning support team saw a need for students to access both academic and mental health support before exams. The peer mentors developed the idea of having this one-day event that is now a collaboration between campus departments.

“I think that the great benefit of this event is having all of those elements come together in one place on one day so that we can support students,” said Doucette.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the basement of the Carnegie Building will be transformed into the ultimate wellness and study space with events and workshops taking place all day.

Starting at 11 a.m. there will also be a hot lunch provided by the Dean of Students and the Laurier Brantford Grants Program. Snacks, coffee and tea will be offered throughout the day.

Students can find a designated quiet study space in CB100. The commuter lounge will be used for the all-day Keep Calm sessions and the Study On workshops will take place in CB106.

For more information, refer to the calendar event.

Keep Calm Sessions

• 10 a.m.: Popcorn with Academic Advising
• 11 a.m.: Colouring with the Stedman Bookstore
• 11:30 a.m.: Self-care bags with the Wellness Centre
• Noon: Ball pit with LOCUS
• 1 p.m.: Traditional Chinese tea ceremony with Global Engagement
• 1:30 p.m.: Hand massages with Indigenous Initiatives
• 2:30 p.m.: Snacks from around the world with Laurier International
• 3 p.m.: Design your own wrapping paper and a campfire sing along with Accessible Learning
• 5 p.m.: Create Perler bead ornaments with Arbor Doucette

Study On Sessions

• 11 a.m.: Make the most of your study flashcards with Bloom’s taxonomy
• Noon: Time management tools
• 2 p.m.: Using bullet journaling as a time-management tool
• 3 p.m.: Study tips for essay exams
• 1 to 4 p.m.: Math and statistics course support in CB207

Waterloo: Highlighting Strategies for Success

The Teaching and Learning Centre is bringing stress-busters to student study spaces on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. New this year, the event is focused on getting students ready for exams through study skills and encouragement.

“Our thought process this year was let's bring the support and the study strategies and encouragement to the students where they're studying,” said Lindsay Lawrence, manager of transition and learning services.

A student success team – made up of members of the math and statistics, writing and study-skills support members – will be travelling to study spaces to hand out snacks, coffee coupons, highlighters and study resources.

“Our idea was to really go and check in with students where they are studying, to say, ‘Hey, we're here if you need us, how are things going, we're thinking about you, we get that it's hard and we're available if you need anything,’” said Lawrence.

Bear, a trained emotional support dog, is accompanying the student-support team throughout the day.

Students who connect with the student success team will get:

• Free coffee coupons provided by Food Services;
• Study tips and a study break handout;
• Free highlighter;
• Snacks (fruit, granola bars and cookies) provided by the Dean of Students Office; and
• Information about support services across campus.

Students will also have the chance to discuss study methods with a learning strategist or book an appointment with student success services.

The team will be travelling to the following study locations:

• 10:30 a.m.: 24-hr Lounge
• 10:50 a.m.: Concourse
• 11:20 a.m.: Solarium
• 11:40 a.m.: Lazaridis Hall Atrium
• 12:20 p.m.: Bricker Academic Building, outside BA201
• 12:50 p.m.: Science Building Atrium
• 1:20 p.m.: Library
• 1:45 p.m.: Writing and Learning Lab, Frank C. Peters Building, P226

Read more for information about academic support services and wellness support services.