Program(s): Exam De-Stressers

Leading up to exams, we usually try to plan some programs that try to reduce stress for 1st Hunt Residents.  These are excellent opportunities to take study breaks, and this year numerous residents chose to take advantage of them.  On Thursday October 30th, we listened to relaxing music and practiced meditation led by RLA Shane Steele-Pardue.  Shane offered basic meditation instruction and taught basic movements along with techniques to soothe muscles, choose a relaxing position, and help individuals find their inner peace in prep for a stressful exam weekend and week.

We conducted a second stress reliever on Monday November 3rd (which is actually a 1st Hunt Tradition).  We like to do massages before each extended and during especially stressful times of the year- a great opportunity for hallmates to chat, while both offering and giving massages and taking a study break all the while.  (Personally, I am very thankful that the massage train is a thing)- it is an excellent stress reliever and a lot of fun.

Thankfully, we had these couple of programs to help us get through the 1st Trimester Exam week.  As a hall and as individuals, we have completed our first trimester at NCSSM for the year.  This time marks the end of the one of the toughest trimesters for the seniors and a difficult time for the juniors as well, as they have now been living at NCSSM for 3 months and everyone must take five classes during the second trimester.  The winter trimester marks the beginning of Research programs for some of our residents as well (in all different disciplines- Biology, Chemistry, and Computational Sciences), which we are excited about on hall.  With several breaks in our Future (Thanksgiving and the Winter Break, among them) we all look forward to having some extended time away from school to relax and focus on other interests.  The journey continues at NCSSM, while our hall all the time continues to work to better itself, developing a more involved, more tight-knit community.  We all face struggles- both as individuals and as a community- but we rebound from them, and we grow.  We are resilient as a hall, and we stand up for each other.  Second trimester is always a difficult time for students at NCSSM.  Thankfully we have a resilient community that not only cares about its members but looks out for them.