The Patriot - October 5th, 2022

Letter From the Editor in Chief

Dear Patriots,

I can hardly believe that the end of the first bi-term is almost here! Finals are just around the corner, and I have yet to meet a single person who disagrees that they snuck up on us far too quickly. Due to the pandemic, Dr. Cockrum put the bi-term schedule in place, but it looks like shorter classes are here to stay. Some students love bi-terms (like me!), but it seems like the majority of students dislike having condensed classes. I enjoy bi-term courses because they allow me to fit more classes into a semester, which means that I can graduate early. But even though I like having shorter classes, I completely understand the stress of quickly approaching finals. We intend for this issue to help ease your mind as classes come to an end and a new round of courses begins.

In this issue, we have gathered study skills, discovered the best places to study around campus, and put together a list of the best ways to relax during finals week. It is important to stay mentally and physically healthy during finals, so rest and good time management are essential. If you think you have heard all the study tips before, how about checking out our article on how to fail your finals? It is the only advice article in this issue that we recommend you do not take to heart. We also have a fun competition coming up—a Family Feud-inspired game where two groups on campus will compete against each other to guess what students’ top answers to the questions in our survey are. Please take the survey so that we can play the game! The more responses we get, the better, so be sure to tell all of your friends. And students are already looking ahead past finals to the upcoming fall break, so we have asked several people what their plans are for their time off. Maybe you can collect some ideas for how to spend your break!

As you head into finals week, remember that God is always with you. Finals may be stressful, but ultimately, they will help you grow. You will look back on these days of your life and realize that the difficult moments are what made you stronger. You have gained so much knowledge already, and there is still more growth to come! I pray the words of 2 Thessalonians 3:16 over you all: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way” (NIV). Rely on God, and he will give you peace because he wants what is best for you.

May God bring you peace this finals week!

Lacie DeGough

Editor-in-Chief Lacie DeGough

Managing Editor

Summer Mills

Faculty Advisor

Jeremiah Massengale

Staff

Izabella Buck

Nathan Evans

Anthony Cage Grubb

Tony Hensley

Cassidy Howard

Alyssa King

Ashlyn Liddle

Amber Simpkins

Hannah Mae Sizemore

Elizabeth Spires

Front cover by Elizabeth Spires

Back cover by Elizabeth Spires and Amber Simpkins

Email comments, concerns or tips to: thepatriot@ucumberlands.edu or call us at 606-539-4172

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The Patriot is the student publication of the University of the Cumberlands. Our goal is to provide timely and original content by highlighting campus news and views.

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The Cheat Code

Don’t Tell Your Professors That We Gave You These Study Tips

BY ASHLYN LIDDLE Staff Writer

Are you in a study slouch? Are you bogged down from reading the same thing over and over without gaining any real progress? You might need to focus on studying smarter, not harder!

“Studying” is the dreaded word commonly placed as far away from fun as possible. But why not combine the two? Forming good study habits is a skill that will help you reach your academic goals and add a kick of excitement to your study routine. Here are five strategies to help amplify your study success.

1. Location

What type of setting works best for you? If you work best with a bit of background noise, find a table in the BCC or play some gentle music as you work. If silence is your friend, check out the library or perhaps sign up for a private study room. Also, wherever you study, challenge yourself to keep away from your phone, as it tends to steal away time that could otherwise be used for work.

2. Calendar

Timeliness is a key component of a good study routine. Determine in the morning how much time you will spend studying, and then execute that plan accordingly. Setting reminders or writing out a schedule for yourself are good ways to help keep your time fixed and controlled. Go through each class and write down the assignments due that week, and every night, make a plan for tomorrow. Always have a goal to be even more productive than the day before.

3. Active listening

Even though you might be running on three hours of sleep or may have not eaten breakfast yet, put forth an extra dose of effort and discipline when sitting in the classroom or watching online. Not only does this strengthen your focus skills, but forming connections with your professors demonstrates maturity and makes the class more enjoyable.

4. Fuel your brain

Part of a good study routine is taking breaks appropriately. For your brain to work at its prime, it must also have the rest necessary for recovery. Eating right and getting good sleep are also healthy components of helping your mind recharge. For more ideas for how to relax, check out our article on relaxation tips on page 6!

5. Take good notes

Perhaps one of the most valuable study aids, taking notes will help you avoid confusion. Memorization can sometimes be a scary term, but you will avoid stress if you make time for it. Furthermore, sticky notes and index cards are your friends. If you have a big test coming up, decorate your wall with a fabulous display of your written study guide. The mind is an amazing realm, and simply by looking at something over and over, you will be amazed at how your brain will eventually be able to retain what it sees.

No one said studying was fun, but by making the right choices and taking the necessary steps, you will learn how to pave your path to straight-A study success.

Photos by Alyssa King

How To Fail Your Finals

Twenty Fool-Proof Ways To Extend Your Time as a Patriot

BY ELIZABETH SPIRES Staff Writer

1. Be sure to stay up binging Stranger Things the night before your final.

2. Don’t ask your professors ANY questions you might have about the content.

3. Get a good night’s sleep… just kidding. You should definitely take espresso shots the night before.

4. Reread your notes? Yeah right… like you took any during the semester, anyway.

5. Relieve test anxiety by playing video games all night.

6. Just wing it.

7. Cram, all of the studying you have to do into one session the night before your exam. Who has ever heard of a prioritized game plan? Not me, not you, that’s who.

8. Binge-watch Euphoria when you’re finished with Stranger Things

9. Definitely don’t plan to take any study breaks.

10. Candy, ice cream, and energy drinks. That’s it. That’s the diet for finals week.

11. Avoid scheduling study sessions with classmates.

12. Be the dorm DJ for the night and blast a Dua Lipa/Harry Styles/Doja Cat mix at full volume to help everyone else fail their finals, too (they’ll thank you later).

13. Return your textbooks to the UC bookstore before you’ve finished studying. You won’t need those. We’re winging it, remember?

14. Oh, so your final isn’t an exam? It’s an essay? The same rules apply. Wait until the night it’s due before you start.

15. Tell yourself that you work better under pressure, and that’s why you have to procrastinate.

16. Keep your phone nearby, optimally, with your Snapchat notifications on, and Clash of Clans live.

17. Forget about having a good breakfast on the mornings of your exams. Just roll out of bed ten minutes before class starts and chug a Monster on your way across campus.

18. If you start to feel stressed… just don’t be. And definitely don’t read Lillian Vance’s article on page 6.

19. Running low on candy and ice cream on the diet plan? Go for a late-night Cook-Out run.

20. Oh, so you don’t want to fail? Then why are you still reading this? Go to page 3 for some real tips.

Bonne chance, Pats!

Photos by Elizabeth Spires

Where To Hit the Books

Some of the Best Locations To Study Around Campus

BY AMBER SIMPKINS Staff Writer

Finals are coming up, so you will (hopefully) be doing a lot of studying. Studying for finals can be nerve-racking for some people, but it doesn’t have to be stressful if you pick a good spot to study. Here are four of the best places to study around campus.

1. Library

The primary purpose of this location is to study, so of course, it’s the perfect place for finals preparation. If you need to study in a spot that is a lot quieter and less distracting than other spots on campus, the library is a great choice. You can study alone at one of the tables or even invite a group to study with you in one of the study rooms. The library also offers many resources to help you do your best during finals, such as tutoring services, a printer, books you can check out, and even a coffee shop for when you need that extra boost of energy.

2. Your Dorm Room

You can always study in the comfort of your dorm room. For some people, this may be the most comfortable spot to study. Just make sure you set up a non-distracting environment for studying properly by doing things such as ensuring that you have a neat desk to study at and keeping distracting noises down. To help set the studying mood, you might even consider shuffling our study playlist, which is located on page 7.

3. The Mid-BCC

The Mid is another nice spot to study. This is another spot on campus with a coffee shop for when you need a pick-me-up. On the side of the coffee shop is the Grab-n-Go, which offers salads, sandwiches, yogurt, and snack packs. Food and coffee are always great to have nearby when studying. There is also a bookstore in the Mid, in case you need any study supplies like pens, notebooks, post-it notes, etc.

4. Cumberland River Coffee (Downtown)

Located downtown, Cumberland River Coffee is our final recommendation for a great place to study. Although the location isn’t technically on campus, it is only a very short walk away. The coffee shop offers a peaceful atmosphere for studying while sipping a coffee. You can order various coffees, blended drinks, and pastries. Also, if you weren’t already aware, you can use your meal swipe at this location.

Hopefully, you will choose one of these areas as your next study location—or maybe even try all four! These places provide the best studyfriendly atmospheres to help you ace your finals. So, if you haven’t studied in any of these locations yet, try making one of them your next study spot!

Photos by Tony Hensley

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Take a Deep Breath, Go for a Walk—You Deserve a Study Break

BY LILLI AN VANCE Staff Writer

With the first bi-term of the fall semester coming to a close, students taking 8-week courses are anxiously awaiting finals week. The library will soon be filled with students cramming for their exams to ensure they get their final grades up to an A. Many students this semester have expressed feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed, and finals week will inevitably increase those feelings.

During this stressful week of preparation, it is important to take time and relax, whether that is by taking a trip to the breathtaking Cumberland Falls or simply treating yourself to a specialty drink from Cumberland River Coffee. Some people find the best way to relax is finding alone time. Junior Callie Bishop explains that her favorite place to relax is her dorm room or “anywhere else that is quiet” where there is “not a ton of people around.” Thankfully, plenty of spaces on campus and downtown can help people find peace and relaxation during finals. Junior Molly Evans’ favorite stress-relieving activity is “taking time to go to the Sud’s Barn downtown.” She also shares that it is “important to reward myself after a long day by buying a new sugar scrub or outfit and getting to talk to the owner, who is always very sweet.” Among these places, others might like to hit the gym for endorphins or find time to hang out with their close friends in Patriot Park. The counseling center, which offers free services to all students and staff members, is also an excellent resource for some helpful hints on relaxation and stress relief. “Take a deep breath, go for a walk, listen to some music.” These are all ideas provided by the counseling center when asked for some tips on how to relax. Relaxation is just as important as studying for your final, and taking breaks is one of the most important parts. Bethany, from the counseling center, discusses ways students can relax and relieve stress during finals. She emphasizes taking a 10-to-15-minute break during your studying and homework and even states that “if you try to cram, it won’t stick. We all deserve a break.” She also discusses the importance of taking walks. “Taking walks is proven to be just as effective to relieve depression as depression medication,” she says. So step outside for some fresh air and take a walk around our beautiful campus. As invincible as many students believe they might be, it is crucial to remember that you cannot operate on an empty tank, and you are entitled to relaxation and breaks. Whether your version of a break is taking time to listen to music, nap, or get active, it is essential to relax even during your busiest weeks.

What’s the Plan?

What UC Students Plan To Do Over Fall Break

BY AMBER SIMPKINS Staff Writer

Fall break is coming sooner than we know it. Before switching to the second bi-term, many students will have four days to take a break, travel, relax, or whatever else they have planned. Here are a few fall break plans for UC students.

Cammie Shuman: “I will be going to a folly for archery.”

Jazzlyn Threlkeld: “I will be working at Spotlight in Berea and visiting my grandparents.”

Rachel Wade: “I will be going to Harlan with my roomie.”

Skyler Jones: “I will either be going to a concert with my brother or a getaway with my friends.”

Taylor Snyder: “I will be going to a haunted house with my friend.”

UC students have a variety of things planned out for fall break. We hope that your fall break is wonderful, whether or not you have plans.

Photo by Alyssa King

Photo by Elizabeth Spires

Introducing the Next Two Members of the Patriot’s Staff

Meet the Staff Spotify Study Session

Alyssa King Staff Writer

1. What year are you in college?

I am in my freshman year.

2. What is your major/minor, and why did you choose this/ these program(s)?

I am majoring in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Forensics and a minor in Journalism. I chose these programs so that I can better understand the criminal justice system and so that I can investigate and report incidents accurately.

3. What do you do outside of school?

I enjoy creating digital art, singing, taking photos, and playing with my kitten.

4. What three words describe you?

I would say that I am driven, honest, and creative.

5. What would you do if you could be doing anything right now and money was not an issue?

I honestly don’t know what I would do. I’m doing exactly what I want to right now.

Hannah Mae Sizemore Graphic Designer

1. What year are you in college?

I am currently in my sophomore year.

2. What is your major/minor, and why did you choose this/ these program(s)?

I am majoring in Art and minoring in Theatre. I chose these programs because I’ve always loved art ever since I was young. I knew from a young age that when I got older, I wanted my career path to have something to do with art. And I fell in love with the behind-the-scenes side of theatre! A two-hour play for the audience takes weeks and months of preparation from the cast and crew.

3. What do you do outside of school?

In my free time, I practice drawing and go over my routines for color guard. I also have karaoke parties with my friends! I love listening to music.

4. What three words describe you? I am determined, artistic, and passionate.

5. What would you do if you could be doing anything right now and money was not an issue?

I would pay off and rebuild my family home from the ground up.

We have carefully curated a mix of 100 peaceful piano and lofi hip-hop songs to get you in the studying mood as finals approach. If you pair this playlist with some of our studying tips throughout the paper, you may even end up enjoying your study time! Just remember to keep your phone far away while you study. This playlist is lengthy so that you can focus on studying rather than changing the songs.

Photos by Tony Hensley

Graphic by Lacie DeGough