Study Breaks: Right vs. Wrong

Author: Rachel Hall

We all know the importance of study breaks. No one can give 100% attention to anything for hours and hours on end, and if you try you’ll find yourself feeling drained and brain dead. However, there is a right and a wrong way to take a study break. Activities that are distracting, like the new Netflix show you’re hooked on or addicting social media apps tend to elongate study breaks and hinder your focus and academic performance. If your study break becomes too long, it gets distracting and becomes harder and harder to return to schoolwork. I’ve found the the best length is five to fifteen minutes of relaxing and de-stressing, then jumping right back into it. With finals coming up, I thought I’d provide some constructive suggestions for activities to try during your study breaks that will increase your focus and help to destress you before your big exams.

1. Yoga

Yoga is an excellent de-stressor and a good way to center yourself. There are tons of 10 minute beginner yoga videos on youtube that are easy to follow, and doing some physical activity and getting your blood movement is a great way for your brain to take a break so you can refocus once you’re done.

2. Take a Shower

I’ve found that a simple shower can do magic to my mood. When you mind is fatigued sometimes all you need is a fresh start, and you’ll come out of the shower feeling refreshed and ready to take on your schoolwork.

3. Have A (Healthy) Snack

Neglecting food is never a good idea. It hinders your academic performance as well as leaving you feeling tired, unmotivated, and moody. Eating something healthy, like fruit or granola, give your mind and body the sustenance they need to power through.

4. Call Your Mom

Isolating ourselves in Du Bois can be a great way to focus for a while, but we all need human contact and who doesn’t love talking to their mom? Whether it’s one of your parents, a friend, or anyone else you feel like talking to, a quick conversation with someone you trust is always a good thing.

5. Just Relax

Sometimes, we all need to just take a minute to clear our mind, breathe, and center ourselves. Closing your eyes for five minutes and putting all of your schoolwork out of your mind is all you need sometimes. I think we could all use five minutes to clear our mind each day, and a study break is a perfect opportunity to do this.

Go ace those finals ladies!

Camille Kostek to Visit Umass Amherst

Author: Jessica Havican

Camille Kostek, former Patriots cheerleader, is set to speak at The University of Massachusetts Campus Center on April 8th, 2019 at 7:30pm. The Spring Speaker, which is brought to campus annually by The University Programming Council, offers an accessible event for all students to hear empowering stories. And I can promise you ladies that Camille will not disappoint!

Kostek rose to fame after being selected as the first ever winner of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model search in March of 2018. After her move to Los Angeles, Kostek was initially denied by modeling agencies, who told her she was not tall or thin enough, which inspired her decision to enter the magazine contest. Since then she has been featured in the following  edition of the magazine which she recently shot in South Australia.

Most notably, Camille has used her social platform and fame to promote body positivity in the industry. With over five hundred thousand followers on her Instagram, Camille has been able to use her success as a model and cheerleader to inspire her young followers. In her instagram bio she states her notable accomplishments in the industry, but also credits herself as and Advocate for Self Acceptance. Believe it or not, even Kostek, a model, has fallen victim to the trolls of the internet. Recently, while on vacation, Kostek shared a bikini photo and received some nasty feedback. A week later she decided to speak out against her own bullies in an emotional yet powerful video.

Since the incident she has not backed down from empowering others to love themselves. Camille has always been known for taking the high road against Instagram haters and inspiring her followers to stay positive in the wake of bullying incidents. Kostek spoke out in a comment to People Magazine saying “We know what we look like. We know what makes us happy about our bodies and what upsets us. And we do not need to value the opinions of others, at all. Especially from people that we don’t even know, or that we don’t care about.”

Kostek has also gained recognition for her #nevernotdancing campaign where she inspires followers to get out for their comfort zones and let go. Her hashtag has become a positive way for her followers to celebrate their body positivity and shake off the haters. Having Kostek as a guest here at the University will be an event that can’t be missed. Attendees will most definitely have a night of fun, dancing and empowerment in store. Members of WIB will be meeting at the top of the escalators in the Campus Center at 7:25 and the event will take the place of our regular general body Monday meetings! Join us!

Nicole and Haley: Taking Care of You, Business Edition

Mental health should always be your number one priority. Our VP Nicole Fontaine & WOI planning committee member Haley Chupka spoke about their history with mental health and their advice for young women in business who may not know how to address their own difficulties. Here are some of their tips:

1. You are never alone! Friends and family will usually support you if you reach out to them. Even if they don’t always understand or they’re not always helpful, it can be good to have someone on your side. And on a grander scale, you’re in good company — Demi Lovato, Ellen Degeneres, Oprah Winfrey, J. K. Rowling, and so many others are wildly successful in spite of their struggles.

2. Therapy is a great thing. You may not like the first therapist you find, but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying. No therapist will be upset if you stop going to them, they just want you to get the support you need! There are plenty of resources on campus to get you started too: the Center for Counseling & Psychological Health and the Center for Women and Community both offer counseling or therapy.

3. Take care of yourself first. When thinking about mental health in relation to the workplace, you have to remember that you can’t pour from an empty glass. If you’re not well enough to work, don’t push yourself to keep going; make recovery your priority. Check out this video for more on the topic:

“Managing your mental health in the workplace” by Kati Morton on YouTube:

Keeping in mind all of the above is critical to keeping yourself healthy. Ultimately, it boils down to knowing when to reach out for help and knowing your own limits. If you have questions, reach out to either Nicole or Haley!

Artificial Intelligence & How it Shapes the World Around Us

Author: Tyler Spellman

A current trend that is transforming the business world as we know it is the use of AI, otherwise known as artificial intelligence. The term artificial intelligence is being used constantly by large firms who are looking to recruit college students for jobs and internships. Companies are looking for students who can keep up with the evolving technologies and become a valuable aspect of their team. We all grew up using technologies, specifically laptops and smartphones. Older generations in the business field are looking towards us to use these technologies in the workplace as well. In order to do so, it is important to understand what exactly artificial intelligence is.

Artificial intelligence is the use of computers performing human tasks, usually to increase efficiency within a business. If businesses can delegate tedious tasks such as calculating or scanning to a piece of AI, more time can be spent focusing on innovation and high-quality work performed by humans. There is a stereotypical image of artificial intelligence as a human robot taking over human tasks in an almost frightening way. There are in fact robots out there, however, AI comes in many different forms. AI may even be in your own home. Home robots include vacuums and pool cleaners that can sense when a wall is approaching. Applications such as Alexa or Google Home respond to our questions and commands in a split second. Also think of the Siri application on our smartphones. Siri thinks like a human when responding to questions about playing a song, navigating the GPS, making a phone call, surfing the web, or stating the weather. Although Siri doesn’t have the look of a robot, she is definitely AI.

Social media has also been dramatically transformed. Have you ever noticed a sponsored ad looking eerily familiar? This is due to AI. AI is constantly scanning our social media usage to personalize our customer experience. This concept is significantly used by sites such as Amazon and Netflix. AI is looking at our data usage and coming up with shows or items we could be interested in. This increases profitability for these companies as a whole. Although these examples represent a smaller scale, AI is also transforming industries on a much more massive scale as well.

In regard to the business world, AI is altering the workplace tremendously. For example, AI has impacted finance industries by scanning markets and finding stocks that would be smart to invest in. This saves both time and energy for us. AI is also revolutionizing the accounting industry. AI allows audits and estimates to be completed much quicker and more efficiently. This allows the firms to focus their energy on greater things.

The impact artificial intelligence has had on our lives and in the business field is significant, however, it is still growing. The transformation that comes from AI has only just begun and will continue to develop and create a life-changing impact in the future.

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Learning to Take Risks

Author: Kayla Kay

As a freshman at Isenberg, I am familiar with how nerve wracking it can be to adjust to a new school and environment. On top of trying to tackle the everyday struggles of adjusting to the social norms of college, learning the ropes of Isenberg can be daunting. Sometimes, with so many classes, clubs, and opportunities available, it seems easier to sit back and not take advantage of the opportunities UMass and Isenberg have to offer. To get you out of that rut, here are my top 3 ideas of ways to step out of your comfort zone and take risks in your life at UMass.

1. Go to Club Fairs:

I have to admit it, I skipped the club fair hosted at the beginning of the year to lie in bed and watch Netflix. While burying myself in fury blankets and watching The Office was amazing, attending club fairs is extremely beneficial in learning about the clubs offered on campus. Even if you don’t find a club you want to join, going is a great way to help you discover more of what you like and what you don’t like. Bring a friend along, it makes the experience less overwhelming and more fun!

       2. Take a Class that has nothing to do with your interests:

My love for the sciences does not go much further than watching Bill Nye the Science Guy, so I was not happy when my advisor informed me that I had to take a Biological Science course. However, trying the course and studying the material was a great experience for me: I ended with an A and also confirmed I definitely do not want to be a scientist!

3. If the Opportunity is there — Study Abroad:

Being homesick is a hard feeling to deal with- I get it, I was always the kid to call my parents at sleepovers. It is easy to abandon the idea of going abroad out of fear, but going is an amazing way to extend your education and experience other cultures. We just got back from Spring Break, so start fresh and choose a time to meet with your advisor! Ask them questions about abroad programs- whether it be a domestic or foreign program!

Go for it! You won’t regret it!