The Patriot - Spring 2023 Issue 7

Letter From the Managing Editor

Editor-in-Chief

Lacie DeGough

Managing Editor

Summer Mills

Faculty Advisor

Jeremiah Massengale

Staff

Izabella Buck

Erica Dick

Maddie Furtick

Amanda Gault

Anthony Cage Grubb

Hello Patriots,

Welcome to our very last issue of the school year! We are so excited to present this finals-themed issue. We cannot believe how quickly the school year has finished. The time has absolutely flown by. Lacie and I could not be happier with how we have represented The Patriot. I am beyond excited to be ending our series of letters from the editors for this year. Lacie and I worked tirelessly to get the newspaper to where it is today. We revived it from a hiatus in the Spring 2022 semester and brought back the biweekly print. Being a part of the University of the Cumberlands’ student newspaper has been one of my most outstanding achievements.

Through my involvement with the newspaper, I have traveled to so many places that I have always wished to visit. I have done many things I never thought possible, from writing articles and putting them out for everyone to see to winning a national award. My work and t he work of our staff continue to surprise me every day. Jeremiah Massengale has been the best advisor during our reign from the fall to now. He encourages us and listens to whatever we need. We could not ask for a better support system while completing our work. I cannot wait to return to the paper in the Fall 2023 semester. I will continue building the paper and its platform. I want the news to be easily accessible and for journalism to be a socially acceptable form of expression again. Fighting against dying journalism has been our struggle this year, but we believe we have succeeded. We have received so many compliments from staff, faculty, and students. We love getting feedback to know what we can improve on, and it also helps us know what we excel at.

The newspaper is doing so well, and I do not know what I will do without Lacie when she graduates. She is the true leader and the brains behind us. Nobody could ever fill her shoes, but I will certainly try my best to be half as good of an editor in chief as she is. I just want to thank everyone that read and interacted with our material. We are grateful to be able to present our work on campus. I hope everyone does well on their finals and has a blessed summer break.

Forever your managing editor,

Summer Mills

Cassidy Howard

Alyssa King

Ashlyn Liddle

Amber Simpkins

Hannah Mae Sizemore

Emily Sloan

Rachel Wade

Front cover photo by Lacie DeGough

Back cover graphic by Hannah Mae Sizemore

Award-winning member of the Associated Collegiate Press and Kentucky Press Association.

Photo by Lacie DeGough

Rest. Relaxation, and Finals Week

The Importance of Relaxing During Finals

BY ANTHONY CAGE GRUBB Staff Writer

Finals week can be one of the most stressful times of the year for students. End-of-the-year activities, making summer vacation plans, and timeconstraining exams and essays fill the last days of the school year. While these activities, plans, and assignments lay heavy on the minds of students across campus, it is important to remember to take frequent study breaks. These breaks can appear in a variety of forms, but if you are having trouble deciding on how best to spend your free time, here are a few suggestions.

As the summer season approaches, warmer weather is making its way to Williamsburg. Therefore, any time spent outside would be an excellent way to take a break from the stressful schoolwork that takes up most of a student’s time. On the weekends, a trip to Cumberland Falls or Laurel Lake would provide a great chance to break up the monotony of schoolwork and classes. Going with a group of friends would also provide you with the chance to spend quality time with people that you may not see until school begins again in August. There are various hiking and bike trails at both places, which are other fun ways to pass the time. These activities may be fun, but they are also great ways to exercise and spend time in nature.

If traveling off campus does not fit your plans for the remaining weeks of the semester, there are several spots around campus where you could take a break. Patriot Park has been a wonderful addition to our campus, especially as a place to relax and spend time with friends. You can bring a hammock and book to spend time reading or lying in the sun. A late-night volleyball game or morning tennis match is another great way to spend time away from schoolwork. These activities provide a great opportunity to hang out with friends and give students a chance to exercise. This exercise can help reduce stress and strengthen one’s body.

The health benefits of spending time outside are undeniable as well. The sun provides many health benefits to humans such as boosting immune health, reducing stress, and improving one’s emotional and mental wellbeing. Therefore, spending time outside during your break from schoolwork can improve your well-being and boost your performance during your finals. Frequent breaks, exercise, and healthy meals will keep your body in excellent condition.

Although many individuals may not enjoy spending time outside, there are several other ways you can take a break from school. Planning to eat lunch with friends or grabbing a coffee between classes is another great way to relax during the stressful end of the term. It is important to make time to eat and socialize, so what better way to spend your time than eating with friends? Planning an hour to eat with friends will allow you to relax and give your body time to receive the necessary nutrients to succeed.

Regardless of which activity you choose to do during your free time throughout finals week, frequent rest and a change of scenery are important. Setting aside time with yourself or with friends is essential for your well-being. These breaks will not only give your body time to rest, but they will also help you perform better on your final projects of the semester. Remember to get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy meal, set aside time for yourself, and stay active while wrapping up the final weeks of school.

Photo by Lacie DeGough

Make the Time

The Importance of Time Management During Finals

BYERICA DICK Staff Writer

It is reaching the end of the semester, and the light can be seen at the end of the tunnel, but there are a lot of potholes along the way. Late-night study sessions, papers, projects, and finals are standing in the way between students and summer break. It may be tempting to only want to relax. But unfortunately, students must make time to do all of their remaining schoolwork while still reserving time to recuperate and be with friends. In situations as stressful as the end of the school year, time management becomes increasingly important. By prioritizing what must be done, avoiding multitasking, and planning finals, the end of classes can look less intimidating.

Prioritizing the tasks needing to be completed is the best place to start. Say there is a final paper for class due that is twenty percent of the class grade, a quiz worth ten percent, and a homework assignment worth five participation points. The task worth the most points should ideally be completed first. By completing the paper before the other assignments, it is finished before mental exhaustion sets in. Another advantage of writing the essay first is that a major stressor will now be out of the way. By prioritizing tasks, more time and energy can be dedicated to the smaller assignments without the presence of a more extensive assignment looming overhead. Overall, time will be more effectively managed with this method.

The next way to effectively manage time is by avoiding multitasking. Multitasking may seem like a good idea at times, but in reality, it is simply dividing attention between multiple different efforts. The mind is a powerful

tool, but it is most powerful when focused. Suppose the attempt is made to divide time between two or three ideas simultaneously. In that case, one may feel productive initially, but it can be predicted that focus on each task will dwindle over time. It makes sense that writing a paper while constantly picking up the phone would not work well. The same can also be said for doing several courserelated tasks at the same time. Doing one thing at a time will help the mind focus more and will allow for better time management.

Finally, when overwhelmed, the importance of planning what the upcoming days will look like and when tasks will be completed cannot be overstated. Keeping a planner up to date does not take long, and its benefits can be felt throughout a hectic work week. An abundance of tasks can seem chaotic, but chaos can be avoided if the work is planned out. By planning out when to complete assignments and sticking to that plan, a more successful way of managing time is achieved. Who knows, maybe when time is scheduled properly and the plans are adhered to, breaks, rewards, and time with friends could be thrown into the mix!

The end of the school year is in sight. The only things left between all students and summer break are a few weeks and assignments. The stress of the final few school days can be overcome! The time left in this school year can be easily managed by prioritizing what must be done, avoiding multitasking, and thoroughly planning tasks/days.

Photo by Lacie DeGough

To UC and Beyond!

Upcoming Travel Opportunities to Look Forward to During Finals

BYEMILY SLOAN Staff Writer

It is nearing that season again! This school year is ending, itineraries are being made, and vacations are being booked. And as this school year comes to a close, there are students on this campus getting ready to pack themselves, not for a vacation per se, but for the opportunity to travel abroad with UC!

For University of the Cumberlands art students—and others interested in this opportunity—Dr. Weedman, art professor and department chair, has helped formulate a trip through the beautiful country of Italy. During this trip, his students will be studying Renaissance art and architecture. In his class this bi-term, his students got the opportunity of a lifetime to recreate the step-by-step fresco painting process. This process is very detailed and time-consuming as students both create the surface and the medium in which they paint with.

Dr. Weedman explains that “Fresco is an ancient painting technique that involves painting into wet plaster with handmade pigments. This technique was utilized by innumerable Italian artists from the late Middle Ages through the Baroque period. Its use during the Renaissance was especially prominent.”

Because most of the works that his students will be studying overseas were created utilizing the fresco technique, he reasoned that recreating the process will allow a deeper understanding of the artwork and the mindset of the artist as a whole.

“Since we will be seeing many of the most important works,” states Dr. Weedman, “I thought it would be a good project for our class. I also had an art student with a great interest in fresco. Learning about the materials and techniques that artists have used can enhance our understanding of how artworks are made.”

This is a very interesting opportunity that UC art students get to share with the history of the artwork itself, but this is not the only opportunity that students get to experience. The UC study abroad program also offers a variety of other trips for on-campus residents. This year’s course travels also include a trip to London/Paris for COMM 333 and a service trip to the Dominican Republic. UC Greece for MSMN 332 and UC London/Paris for World Music will be offered in the Spring 2024 semester. These travel courses are planned to be offered on an every-other-year rotation. For those interested in these opportunities, it is important to note that you do not have to be a major to join a class and experience beautifully diverse countries and cultures. This opportunity is regularly offered to anyone on campus who is interested and who qualify to travel with UC.

Julie Deyrup, Director of UC Study Abroad, shares that the UC study abroad program benefits students because these “opportunities allow our Patriots to learn vital professional and life leadership skills. In any other country, their experiences abroad enable them to practice navigating real-world culture and problem-solving moments. These skills are certainly valuable in today’s global job market, and we want our Patriots ready for the world!”

If studying abroad with UC seems of interest to you, contact Mrs. Julie Deyrup to plan your next adventure! See you on the other side of the world!

Photo by Emily Sloan

Ace the Test

Online Resources to Help You Through Your Finals

BYAMBER SIMPKINS Staff Writer

It is officially the end of the year, which means finals are approaching. Luckily, there are many websites and apps that can help you ace your upcoming finals. The following websites and apps can help you with your finals in many ways from studying for tests to helping you with your final papers.

Quizlet

Quizlet will become your best friend while you are studying for your finals. Quizlet offers many ways to study for your upcoming tests, with many study sets to choose from that pertain to the subject you need to study. One way to study with Quizlet is to use the flashcard method offered on this site, which helps you with memorization of terms or events. After you think you have the terms memorized you can do mock tests to make sure you know the information before your final.

Grammarly

Grammarly is a great website to use if you have any upcoming final papers. This website helps you make sure all of your grammar on your paper is correct. The website may even make suggestions to make the content of your paper sound more put together. This website also offers a plagiarism checker so that you can avoid the risk of accidentally plagiarizing on your paper.

Distraction-Free Apps

There are several apps that help you create a distraction-free environment to study for your exams. A very popular app is called Forest. You can set a timer

with the intention of not using your phone while it is going, and the app grows a tree while you are studying. The tree dies if you touch your phone and makes you start over. This provides motivation to keep you focused. You can also track your productivity with this app as well. This app does cost money, but there is a very similar free app called Plantie. You can also download apps that block distractions on your phone for a set amount of time. For example, you could set an app to block you from using any social media or entertainment apps until the time you set to study is over. There is a free app called Freedom that does this. These apps are great for people that struggle with studying because they get easily distracted.

Citation Machine

This app can be a life saver if you have any upcoming research papers. This app cites information for you in any format you choose. You can simply put in the website link or title to any media source and the website will generate the correct citation information for you. The website will also list all of the links you cited in alphabetical order for you when you go to the list of all your citations you have used.

Finals week can be a very stressful time, which is why extra resources are very helpful. These online resources offer many aids to guide your studying or writing for your finals. Hopefully these resources help you ace all of your finals!

Graphic by Lacie DeGough

Put Yourself Out There

This Rule By Mel Robbins Will Help You Stop Procrastinating

IZABELLA BUCK Staff Writer

Soundtrack Studying

Let us be honest; everyone has hit the snooze button more than once. The disinclination to face new challenges has affected us all at some point in life. Procrastination has often been considered a time-management issue, but recent research suggests procrastination is linked to mood regulation.

Mel Robbins, a motivational speaker, television personality, and author best known for her TEDx talk “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,” uses anecdotes and research to discuss personal growth, motivation, and overcoming obstacles.

She visited the University of the Cumberlands about a month ago to talk about the Five Second Rule and how it changed her life with the Leadership program. The Five Second Rule is a countdown to taking action. It helps take control of your mind and break the pattern of overthinking and self-doubt. It also helps people transform bad habits into good ones and regain control of their lives. Using these rules can help people in hard times such as with finals.

Being a part of the audience during her talk, I decided to try this method to see if it impacted me. I am a known procrastinator who always does things last minute or does not do my tasks. I had set a goal for myself to reach as I set off on this quest toward personal growth.

I recorded my daily routines using the Five Second Rule and things that were added to my to-do list throughout the week. My main goal was to be able to get up and do what needed to be done, such as homework.

The first day was challenging as I had set an alarm to wake up at 8 a.m. to start my day two hours earlier than usual. When I heard my alarm, I did not

want to wake up. Just as I was about to hit the snooze button on my phone, I stopped, thought of what Mel had said during her talk, and realized I was doing the same thing. I took a few moments to count backward from five. Once I hit one, I hit the dismiss button and got out of bed to prepare for the day.

Usually, my day consists of me just going to class and working. However, I do make plans that I never go through with, including Spring Formal. I wanted to go; however, I knew it would be crowded and loud, two things I do not like, which made me hesitate. Sitting in my dorm listening to the people outside, I felt like I should go. So, I used the Five Second Rule to motivate me to get up and go. While I did not enjoy it as hoped, it got me outside into a public space.

At one point I was not motivated to do my schoolwork. My emotions were completely offputting due to my mental health. Though I knew I had to finish the work before the due dates. Most of my classes consist of writing articles and responses, which are mentally draining. While I wanted to procrastinate until the last minute, I decided to do one or two assignments for each class. I used the countdown as if doing a race with homework. It worked as I had more free time throughout the day to do what I wanted, like watch Doctor Who or a Mysta Rias stream on YouTube.

Mel Robbins’ method works. It does make it easier to handle and develop personal growth. While my week was not as busy as most, I accomplished more than usual. I got out more and became a productive member of society that is not living their life on replay.

Our editor in chief, Lacie DeGough, put together a playlist of her favorite peaceful soundtracks to listen to while studying!

Graphic by Lacie DeGough

Graphic by Lacie DeGough