Tips For A Successful Finals Week And A Productive Winter Break

By: Ariana Capozzi

As November comes to an end, the one thing standing in our way from winter break is finals week. For many of us, this can be a really stressful time because finals can impact our grades greatly. Therefore, I have some useful advice for students who want to be successful when preparing for/taking these important exams on November 30th through December 4th.

Make a detailed plan to avoid procrastination 

As someone who struggles with procrastination, I know what it is like to get so stressed about an exam to the extent that I will put it off until the last minute, which only makes everything worse. This semester, I made a promise to myself that I would work on this, and I found some really great ways to stay on top of my workload that might help others.

A great way to keep track of all the different exam times and due dates for each class is to get a planner, or even using Google Calendar. For each day of the week, map out what subject you need to study for and for how long. This will have you doing a little bit each day, rather than procrastinating and saving everything for the night before. Also, put aside some time everyday to allow you to clear your head. If you don’t, you will burn yourself out before finals even arrive. Mental health is important, and breaks are completely acceptable. Whether it is grabbing a coffee or writing in a journal, do what works best for you. Remember to study in order of importance and stay focused, but always prioritize your well-being.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to others

Remote learning has definitely made it harder for us to meet new people or get the face to face experience and help that we desire. But, it is important to remember that everyone is going through the same thing. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a fellow classmate and ask for help on something that you do not understand. I have found that the Class of 2024 Facebook Group has exposed me to so many people that have similar classes. You could form an online study group or ask questions in a class discussion to help prepare for the exams.

Create the ideal test-taking environment

Find the place that keeps you comfortable and focused for the most time. Everyone is different, and some people may not know what works best for them, so try new things. I created my own personal dorm in my basement to get some peace and quiet away from my family. When I take an exam, there are no distractions, and it is perfect for me. Some students may not care about noise and can get into the zone at a Starbucks or public library. Whatever it may be, try to find it, because once you do, you will be less stressed during the exam, and it may spark the extra boost that your grade needs.

After finals are over, we have a two-month break to look forward to. This is a lot of time off, so if anyone is looking for some ways to make sure they have a productive winter break, here are some ideas.

Take a class over the Winter

If you are looking to stay productive or get ahead with school credits, taking an online winter course is a great option. This is the perfect opportunity to try a class that seems to interest you. These classes will be for about six weeks, starting December 7th, but you can only enroll or drop until December 11th for a full refund. If this seems like a good fit for you over the winter, I highly suggest it!

Work on your resume

There are many activities you can partake in to add to your resume. For example, apply for an internship with a company that is similar to your major, volunteer with an organization while practicing social distancing, or get a job that will teach you things that a future career might entail, like leadership, customer service, public speaking, or organization skills.

Pick up a new hobby

Sometimes being a student does not allow us to pick up new hobbies or activities that we are interested in because we just do not have enough time. Winter break is the perfect time to try new things like reading, journaling, exercising, learning a language etc. If you ever find yourself bored, be bold and start something new. 

This semester was very different due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and hopefully these tips can help students adjust and succeed during this stressful time of year!

Mentally Preparing for the Holidays

By: Julia Leroux

For the majority of people the year 2020 has been an emotional roller coaster ride with its constant ups and downs and sudden loops that turn our world upside down, eventually making us all sick and wanting to get off the ride. Covid-19 and its effects have caused millions of Americans to suffer economically, emotionally, and mentally throughout these past months. Specifically, citizens’ mental health has taken a toll due to the lack of normalcy in our daily routines and due to lockdowns within society to prevent the spread of the virus. In May 2020, there was an average of 34.5% of adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and/or depression; and just a few months later in July 2020, 40.1% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. As you can see the numbers are steadily increasing, and people are continuing to suffer from mental health disorders. 

With the holiday season around the corner, people’s mental health is continuing to decline; but we cannot afford to see our friends, family members, and even ourselves suffer any longer at the hands of our mental state. Mental Health America has identified ways to cope with our feelings and thoughts as the holidays grow near:

Identify How You’re Feeling

This year has introduced us to new challenges and situations that we did not foresee; and along with these set challenges came anxiety, stress, and depression. There are numerous ways to identify your thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner; for example, communicating with your friends is a great resource in identifying your thoughts and feelings. Because they are experiencing similar situations to you, they are likely feeling the same way you are. Never be afraid to reach out to your friends and family as they can attest to what you may be feeling, and it can encourage insight on how to cope with your mental health. Sharing your feelings aloud can be therapeutic; and if you do not feel comfortable sharing this information with friends or family, seeking professional help is always a great option.

Acknowledge What You’ve Lost

Although the holidays are usually cheerful and exciting times, this year may not seem like that because of the hardships many of us have endured. Many of us have lost loved ones, jobs, experiences, or education due to Covid-19; so it is perfectly normal to grieve during this time and acknowledge the things we have lost. It is also crucial to note that we must also acknowledge what others have lost, as well, in order to empathize with them and understand where they are coming from. No one needs to face these hardships alone, and sticking by one another can benefit everyone’s mental health.

Practice Gratitude

While a lot has occurred in the past couple of months, there are still a numerous amount of things to be grateful for. Making lists of who and what we are thankful for can illustrate how much we did not lose during the course of 2020, and we can deeply appreciate everything and everyone in our lives. It is vital to thank the ones who have guided us through these difficult times such as our family members, friends, classmates, professors, and anyone else who has helped. If you are unable to express your gratitude in person to the ones you love, consider writing a note to demonstrate how thankful you are or make a call to those you will not see during the holidays. 

There are several other ways to cope with your mental health during the holidays, but the most important aspect to remember is to always reach out when you are feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed. Talking it out with family members and friends is always a good idea, and you are never burdening people with your feelings. I hope everyone is staying physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy during these difficult times, and just know it will get better!

Sources:

https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

https://mhanational.org/preparing-holidays-during-covid-19

Inspirational Female Leaders Who Have Paved The Path To Success

By: Annette Sebastian 

“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes.’ They will say, ‘Women don’t have what it takes.’” ー Clare Booth Luce

Throughout history there have been numerous women who have overcome obstacles and allowed more women to take steps into fields that are male dominated. These women have shown society that women are capable of doing what they set their minds to and have encouraged other women to follow their footsteps. 

Here are a couple of powerful women who have changed society and the lives of many women

1. Ruth Bader Ginsberg 

She was an American lawyer whose career focused on gender equality and women’s rights. She co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She later became nominated as the second woman to become a Supreme Court Justice. Ginsberg entered law school as one of the only females and proved that a woman could be a successful lawyer. Her accomplishments and dedication to fighting against sex discrimination allows future generations like us to experience fair treatment. 

2. Indra Nooyi 

Nooyi was the CEO of PepsiCo and has consistently been ranked among the world’s most powerful women. She broke down the traditional view that business is for men, proving that women can be in charge and excel in business. She was one of the few minority women who held a CEO position in a high profile corporate company. Nooyi focused on a healthier and more sustainable initiative for PepsiCo. She was a key player in raising PepsiCo’s net profit and focused on long term goals even though they were controversial at the time. 

3. Sheryl Sandberg 

Sanberg is the COO of Facebook and the first woman to serve on Facebook’s board of directors. She was also one of the first workers at Google and grew their advertising team. She has also proved that women can achieve great feats if they try. She is fighting for equal representation and is the founder of LeanIn.Org, a global community focused on helping women achieve their ambitions. 

4. Kamala Harris

Recently, Kamala Harris has become the first female Vice President-Elect of the United States. It is such a huge accomplishment because she is a woman of color who is in a position that has always been filled with White males. It is the highest position in the United States that a woman has held and it proves that women are capable of reaching and leading these positions. This is a very important moment in history and just as Harris said, “I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.”

These are all women who are not afraid to follow their dreams and change society. There are also many other women that I have not mentioned who have paved the way for future generations of females to succeed. Women need to fight harder to hold positions of power but as we can see from the examples above, it is possible. As society advances, female leaders will not be an exception anymore. 

Sources: 

https://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg

https://www.businessinsider.com/indra-nooyi-pepsi-ceo-2018-8

https://www.businessinsider.com/fabulous-life-of-sheryl-sandberg-2014-7

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2020/11/07/kamala-harris-makes-history-what-the-first-female-vice-president-elect-means-for-women/?sh=34eaef686455

Companies that Market Themselves as Ethical, But Really Aren’t

By: Caroline Tierney

Greenwashing, is the notion that countless companies market themselves as more ethical and environmentally friendly than they truly are in order to reach a greater audience. The list of greenwashed companies goes on, many focused on large profits without regard to the impact their businesses create.

Lush

This one hurts. Plenty of people, including myself, love the luxurious products Lush puts out that instantly fill your bathroom with a delightful aroma. They have made significant strides to be more sustainable in recent years, but have fallen short in some areas. Lush currently uses palm oil in some of their products, despite announcing their commitment to eliminating it a couple years ago. Palm oil is heavily derived from the Amazon and can only be obtained through deforestation, which clearly signals a huge environmental red flag. Secondly, Lush claims to include two or less preservatives per product, but critics argue that it is unlikely a mostly natural product emits a scent that can be smelt from around the corner of the store. This beauty company markets themselves as cruelty free, committed to testing none of their products on animals. Despite this, they do use milk and beeswax in some of their products, a possible alarm for the animal friendly community. Considering the dairy and beekeeping industries have been severely unethical in the past, this raises a few eyebrows. Overall, Lush does a decent job of practicing more sustainable business operations, but there are a few important segments that could use some help.

Oatly

Oatly is an oat milk provider widely known for its use in urban coffee shop Alfred’s Los Angeles and coffee powerhouse Starbucks. They have made notable efforts to maintain sustainable practices as the popularity for plant based milk has increased. In order to grow with the company’s rising demand, Oatly recently sold a share of their company to Blackstone, an international business firm, for $200 million. Oatly executives hope that this investment will build company capital and create production plants across the US, Asia, and Europe. Consumers fear that the involvement of Blackstone in the Oatly corporation will open the door to unethical practices. This is a valid claim considering Blackstone has investments in all sorts of industries, including deals that participate in the deforestation of the Amazon. They have shown great interest in funding the construction of a highway spanning the forest, an intense operation that will result in serious loss to the world’s environment. Oat milk lovers consider whether this investment reflects Oatly’s true core values and their ignorance to involving a company with minimal environmental consciousness. These companies have clashing environmental agendas, and the two will have to reach an agreement that will likely sacrifice Oatly’s dedication to being eco-friendly. 

Starbucks

Lastly, we examine a global company that remains favored by a large majority of coffee drinkers. From the store ambiance, to the music, to the psychology of the store layout, Starbucks has an impressive business model. One of their most prominent claims is that 99% of the coffee you drink from Starbucks is ethically sourced. Not surprisingly, experts say otherwise. In Brazil, an investigation of a large coffee plantation certified by Starbucks highlighted some intense ethical concerns. It’s laborers were documented working inconsiderate lengthy hours, living in filthy conditions, and being paid unfair wages. Starbucks has stated that they do not hire individuals under the age of 15, but as you may presume, this was found to be false at a few of their suppliers. It is easy for Starbucks to market their business as ethical and environmentally savvy in stores, but the discrepancy lies within the company’s supply chain. With such a strong lead in the coffee industry, Starbucks should be able to maintain their ethical standards without complication. It shouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a corporation like Starbucks to not support plantations like these ones. These findings have raised the question of whether Starbucks actually cares to source ethically made coffee beans, or if they solely care about making profits, truly defining the idea of greenwashing.

Sources:

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/lush-cosmetics-ltd

https://greenisthenewblack.com/the-conscious-scoop-oatly-controversy/

https://fairworldproject.org/starbucks-has-a-slave-labor-problem/

Differentiating Marketing, Advertising, and PR

By: Aisling Gigandet

When it comes to the business world, people commonly confuse Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations as synonymous. While in our fast-paced world, the lines between Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising are more blurred than ever, the truth is the three functions are still distinct. Even as someone studying Marketing, I didn’t understand each job function until I researched and took classes in each! So, what exactly are the commonly recognized differences between Marketing, Advertising, and PR?

Marketing

Marketing is defined by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as “the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.” Marketers usually focus on the exchange of money for products or services between an organization and its customers. The role of a marketing department within an organization is generally focused on effective outreach to current and potential customers, and ultimately works to increase leads and sales numbers.

Advertising

Advertising is often considered a subset of marketing that makes the product or service known to the marketplace, usually through paid channels. You can name advertising as a component of the marketing activities, but you would not task an advertising team with marketing activities like research, product management, pricing, or creating a marketing plan. Both marketing and advertising consider how to approach and appeal to the target market, but marketing extends beyond advertising.

Public Relations

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) defines PR as “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” PR is not focused on communicating solely with consumers and increasing sales, but rather is focused on communicating with key public stakeholders in an honest way to create positive outcomes for all parties involved. Key stakeholders that PR professionals communicate with include customers, but also extends to internal employees, community members, members of the media, governmental/regulatory bodies, and more.

Although these definitions are generally recognized, understandings of each field often vary person to person. In small organizations, oftentimes all three functions are performed by a single team- or even a single person. Many larger organizations tend to have more distinct teams and roles for each function. While experience is the best way to shape your own understanding, knowing basic info about each is helpful to further your awareness of organizational functions and communications as you prepare to enter the professional workforce.

Sources:

https://www.prsa.org/about/all-about-pr#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPublic%20relations%20is%20a%20strategic,PRSA

https://www.thensmc.com/sites/default/files/CIM%207Ps%20Resource.PDF

https://online.csp.edu/program-resources/marketing-vs-advertising/