ATMentors Monthly
Howdy Mentors!
[december]
The holiday spirit is upon Aggieland! The weather is cooler, and more students are preparing for their finals, as the Fall 2010 semester is coming to an end. In this month’s issue of ATMentors Monthly, make sure you read [What’s New with Mentors?] to catch up on our plans for 2011. Also, [Mark Your Calendar] with some dates and events occurring within the next few months. See you next year! WHOOP!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from everyone at
New Student Programs!
[What’s New with Mentors?] Do you know someone that you think would be a great mentor for our Aggies? E-mail ATMentors@tamu.edu or have them submit the New Mentor Application online at www.mentors.tamu.edu Have a great story about mentoring, testimonial, or just something fun (recipe, good book, etc.) you would like to share with the other mentors? Please email ATMentors@tamu.edu and tell us about it! It could be featured in a new section of ATMentors Monthly called Mentors Corner! We want your feedback! Opinions? Ideas? Concerns? Contact ATMentors@tamu.edu. A big thank you to all the new ATMentors and we welcome back the ATMentors that renewed, we appreciate all that you do!! “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen and a push in the right direction.”-John Crosby
[Tips for December] This section contains hints and resources that will help you while mentoring.
Stressed about FINALS?! You can always tell students WHAT to do to help ease the stress of finals, but here are some helpful hints on what NOT to do. 1. Pulling “all nighters” Pulling an all nighter is very common term for most college students, but the reality is that it is not going to help them come test day. Students who stay up all night will go through the next day exhausted, dizzy, and fatigued. Studies show that students who pull “all nighters” have lower GPAs than students who allow study time each night.
2. Powering down the caffeine Caffeine can give your energy level a temporary jolt, but that can be accompanied by a later crash that leaves you feeling completely drained. Studies show that students who consumed energy drinks may also experience headaches or even heart palpitations. Finding natural ways to get extra energy, such as a healthy diet and exercise, as well as quality sleep on a regular basis, is the best way to maintain enough energy to tackle finals.
3. Procrastinators never prosper While many people swear by this method, it’s an obvious risk if you really think about it. First, you always run the risk of not finishing in time, and being unprepared. Second, you greatly increase your chances of needing to try some of the other items on this list, such as powering down the caffeine or pulling all-nighters. Finally, adrenaline and hasty ‘cramming’ tend to encode information into your short-term memory, but the knowledge doesn’t always remain memorized; you cheat yourself out of a true education. www.stress.about.com
[Campus Highlight] This section contains helpful hints and resources that will help you while mentoring.
Tutoring Resources
It is the end of the semester and every student has finals on his or her mind. “I don’t have time to study”, “I never learned this stuff and my final is next week”, and “I can’t afford tutoring right now,” may be some popular phrases you hear from struggling students around this time of year. Many students are not even aware of the services offered right here on campus. Check out these options available throughout the year:
The Department of Multicultural Services offers FREE one-on-one peer tutoring, Sunday thru Wednesday from 4pm-8pm in certain courses. Set up an appointment here: http://tutor.tamu.edu/.
The Student Learning Center supports Supplemental Instructions, Drop-In Tutoring (DIT), and Tutor Zones. Visit http://slc.tamu.edu/tutoring, call (979) 845-2724, or visit them in 118 Hotard Hall for more information.
[Mark Your Calendar] Important Dates & Events
December 7th Redefined Day, Students attend Friday classes December 8th Redefined Day, Students attend Thursday classes December 10th-15th Final Exams December 17th Commencement & Commissioning December 24-31 Faculty & Staff Holiday January 10-11/12-13 New Student Conferences January 17th Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Faculty & Staff Holiday January 18th First day of Spring 2011 Semester
Have suggestions, comments, or an addition to the newsletter? Please e-mail ATMentors@tamu.edu or call 979.845.5826.