By Alex Riehl, Vice President Academic (2020-21)
The post Five reasons why a journalism degree is useful — even if you don’t go into journalism post-grad appeared first on Carleton University Journalism Society.
]]>Whether you’re a high schooler contemplating whether to throw your hat in the ring and apply to Carleton’s j-school, or a fourth year student figuring out what you wish to do with your life after graduation, there’s one thought most journalism students can agree crosses their minds at some point in their lives — why did I think this was a good idea?
It’s no secret that it’s now more difficult than ever to break into the journalism industry. With encroachment of media and tech giants from the U.S., to the increased distrust the public seems to have in mainstream media, the employment landscape looks rather bleak across the nation. On the other hand, while major newspapers and media organizations continue with layoff after layoff (particularly of journalists in the culture, entertainment, and lifestyle beats), digital media startups and independent publications may be the saving grace of Canadian journalism.
Nonetheless, whether you decide to dive head-first into the industry after university or take a bit of time to decide whether it’s really for you, pursuing a degree in journalism is useful on all fronts. In fact, I’ve even come up with five reasons why a journalism degree may just help you with whatever ambitions you may have, even if they don’t all necessarily have to do with being the next Peter Mansbridge.
1. Good writing is a skill everyone wants, but few people have.
If there’s one thing you’ll be doing a lot throughout your journalism degree, it’s writing. Whether it be writing actual articles, writing scripts for audio or video pieces, or writing pitches or email requests to sources, you’ll learn (through critique and practice) how to hone your writing skills for all kinds of projects. Journalism will give you the opportunity to learn how to write everything from 3000-word, long-form features, to short, 250-word news briefs — both of which apply to a variety of careers.
Though this may seem like an obvious benefit to the degree (and many others like it), what makes journalism unique is the fact that you’re taught how to write concisely and simply for a wide-ranging audience. It’s imperative that all Canadians be able to understand and follow our reporting, and considering nearly half of our adult population struggles with literacy, communicators who have learnt how to cater to those who may not have had the chance to learn how to read or write at an academic level is extremely important.
2. You’ll learn how to deal and work with all kinds of people.
It probably comes as no surprise that obtaining a journalism degree requires a great deal of working with people. Each assignment you’ll submit will generally require at least three interviews from three different people, and don’t even get me started on the number of group assignments you’ll take part in over the course of four years. Both of these things provide a unique opportunity to learn how to work with people in difficult situations.
That might mean learning how to be comfortable with repeatedly contacting a needed source for an interview, asking people invasive and perhaps even controversial questions, forcibly taking the lead on a project while on a tight deadline, or delivering/receiving a generous amount of constructive criticism regarding group contributions. By virtue of the discipline, journalism will teach you how to interact with individuals from all walks of life — not only because you’ll be writing articles on a variety of subjects you might have never even thought about before, but also because the industry tends to attract quite a colourful crowd of individuals. Learning to navigate similarities and differences in a professional way while working so closely with others is a skill that applies to many careers, but is especially relevant to succeeding in journalism.
3. If you don’t already have a good work ethic and time management skills, journalism will force you to develop them.
Journalism is all about producing top-quality work on extremely tight deadlines, which means there’s generally very little time for fooling around. People who already have good drive and motivation for work will be able to consistently put that skill to good use throughout the course of their journalism degree — and for those who might not be as developed in that area … well, you’ll get there.
Putting together the average story — one photo, 500 words, and a multimedia element — may not seem that complicated, but you’d be surprised at the number of complications that can arise. Sources not getting back to you, sources ghosting, your recorder malfunctioning, your camera not focusing throughout the course of filming (and you not realizing until the editing stage), etc. are all things most journalism students have encountered at some point during their degree, and are generally things that can only be mediated by one thing — more time.
Having the drive and work ethic to start your assignments early (or dedicate a significant amount of time to them within a short timeframe) is extremely important to succeed in this degree, because it is almost inevitable something will go wrong. This drive and ability to manage your time transfer well to other careers, and will be extremely appreciated by employers in similar fast-paced sectors.
4. You’ll have a way to demonstrate your creativity to employers.
Though sometimes overlooked, creativity is an extremely useful skill in a variety of industries, from communications, to marketing, to policy making, etc. Being able to think outside the box and come up with new and interesting ways to approach a problem, propose an idea to a client, or foster office camaraderie are all related to one’s creative abilities, and nothing fosters creative thinking better than spending four years having to consistently come up with unique avenues of reporting.
Not only will you be able to hone your creativity while in journalism school, you’ll also have proof of doing so after — your portfolio! Though creative writing, audio/video editing, and infographic-making may not directly apply to every discipline, using your portfolio as a jumping-off point in cover letters/job interviews to demonstrate how you creatively approached topics from new angles, or solved problems related to group work or sources is definitely a plus of having spent four years studying journalism.
5. This isn’t just any journalism degree— it’s a Carleton journalism degree.
As a result of being Canada’s oldest journalism school, a Carleton journalism degree carries with it a certain reputation and prestige few degrees provide. Tell almost anyone in Ottawa that you’re studying journalism at Carleton, and they’ll generally be impressed. People know that completing four years’ worth of j-school at Carleton is extremely difficult, because the degree itself is tough. I’ve even had former-j-schoolers-turned-law-students tell me the workload of the program is similar to getting a JD!
So whether you’re looking for a job in journalism, law, medicine, the federal public service, or industry, just know that most people in Canada will assume the best of Carleton journalism graduates — and the above-mentioned skills will likely be a given.
By Pascale Malenfant, President (2021-22)
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]]>The post 10 things every journalism student can relate to appeared first on Carleton University Journalism Society.
]]>We’re all journalism students here, there is quite a few things you can bring up in any conversation with your peers and everyone has a “that happened to me, too!” moment. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes predictable, but most of the time it’s probably a little bit annoying and we all like to vent about it. So, I’ve done the generous task of compiling 10 things every journalism student can relate to; maybe use them as a conversation starter one day!
1. The source of few words
This is the source you’re relying on. The last one you need to round out your story and you are very excited to finish it off. The interview starts and you try to warm them up a bit with conversation and they’re nothing but a stonewall. You get into asking some questions and they manage to answer the broadest questions with “I guess.” They’re lack of words is almost impressive. Bonus: contemplating if this means you have to find another source because this one was so useless.
2. Staring at the battery level of your recorder during an interview
Okay, sure. Every professor says, “Double check your recorder’s battery before an interview, you don’t want to lose it.” But it won’t ever happen to you, obviously. One bar? Pfft, it’s a 15-minute interview, there should be no problem… Until it’s the middle of the interview and your source is talking but all you can focus on is manifesting additional electricity into that battery and praying it lives.
Bonus: The extra anxiety from seeing the recorder jump from two bars to one in the middle of an interview.
3. An edit on your piece you despise but grin and bear with it
Yay, you see your piece is up and published! This is a great moment; you share it with your family, and you go to re-read your own work in its final form as one last hurrah. But wait… What’s this? You didn’t phrase that sentence that way. Why is that paragraph over there? Your lede wasn’t that bad, was it? You tell yourself you got the by-line and that’s all that matters, but the insecurity festers.
Bonus: Someone you know compliments the edited part of your story you despise.
4. The source who decides they don’t want to be quoted after the interview
The talkative cousin of the source of few words, this person delivered some amazing information and quotes which will take your story to a whole new level. They had more confidence in the subject matter than you initially had in the story, but they single-handedly made you optimistic. That is, until they suddenly are not comfortable being quoted anymore and wish to either be anonymous or go off the record. Your entire story crumbles away before your eyes, and so does your will to be a journalism student.
5. Riding the awkward limbo between identifying as a journalist or a student
Are you a journalist? A journalism student? Just a student? Are these projects or articles? What are you even doing? When you e-mail a source, should you say you’re a journalism student or just a journalist? Oops, you said journalism student and they just didn’t reply. Oops, you said journalist and they had much higher expectations for your publisher.
Bonus: Just having imposter syndrome, we’ve all been there.
6. The source that got away
The least time-consuming but most common occurrence of the whole source family is that one source you think would be really good, but they just stop replying. You send e-mail after e-mail to confirm your interview, but they’re just gone. You’ll be thinking about them until the day you die, even after you settle for a lesser source. They will always be the one that got away.
Bonus: They conveniently e-mail you after the story is completed apologizing for “losing track” of the e-mail chain.
7. Random people asking, “Isn’t journalism a dying business?”
Sir, I am here to Uber, not be interrogated about my life choices thank you very much.
8. Having no clue what you actually want to do
There was something about journalism that brought you here, but it doesn’t seem like you’re actually finding it. Don’t worry, this one is perfectly normal no matter how much it may not seem so. Sometimes you just need to workshop with multiple forms of journalism or even programs to figure out exactly what you like to do. Maybe writing actually really sucks and audio editing is more your speed, or maybe you just love to see that pretty face in the camera. You’ll find what you like soon enough, just make sure you leap on it, don’t let it pass by.
9. Telling yourself you’ll transcribe quotes later until it’s way too late
This is the worst, and it’s hard to blame it on anything but yourself, but why would you want to transcribe quotes when you could do absolutely nothing instead. It’s such an unfair proposition. So, you ignore the task until suddenly your story is due in a couple days and you have a good idea of what your source said but you actually have no clue at all, and you got to pour through a 45-minute interview for 2 hours trying to find the best quotes.
Bonus: You have, like, three jot notes in your notebook for some reason that don’t help at all.
10. Reworking your lede for hours before you even start writing
This might be the trope with the most victims. You know the lede is one of the most important components of your story, coincidentally it’s also the most fun! You think to yourself, “I’ll just make a placeholder and get back to it later,” but for some reason it’s been about an hour and you’re still working on your “placeholder” because none of the phrasing feels right. The lede is an addictive piece of writing you just can’t stop playing around with in the amount of time you probably could have finished everything else.
Bonus: Your lede gets replaced anyway once your story is edited and published.
Bonus: When the headline feels like the best part of your story
Sometimes the headline is just that good, and you can’t help but be proud of it.
Bonus for the bonus: Your headline has like 3 puns in it.
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]]>The post How to step up your photo-taking routine appeared first on Carleton University Journalism Society.
]]>Before we get into this, let me be clear: this article is meant for everyone. Whether you are a beginner photographer, a hobbyist, a self-proclaimed selfie prodigy, or a professional, here are five things I recommend that you can do to improve your photo-taking routine.
Take a moment to figure out why you want to take the photo.
Do you want to depict a model beautifully? Then you’ll want to make your model feel at ease – people don’t look great when they are perplexed and confused. Don’t be afraid to direct them and help them feel confident.
Perhaps you want to capture an event as it happens – then follow the action. Maybe, the sole purpose behind your photo is to remember and frame a personal moment, in which case you’ll likely want to focus on the varying emotions within the photo.
Knowing why you are taking the photo is half of the journey.
By now we have all seen the Kawhi Leonard Game 7 buzzer-beater photo by Toronto-based photographer Mark Blinch. If Blinch had wanted to capture a personal memory instead of an action filled moment, he might have turned the camera around and taken a celebratory self-portrait. Perhaps instead of using a wide lens he would have shot a closeup of Leonard’s expression. Having determined a purpose for his photos prior to shooting, Blinch could focus all of his attention on the action in front of him.
Determine who will see your photo and if the purpose behind the shot is clear.
This is easier said than done. The web has a way of spreading photographs to all corners of the globe. The general rule of thumb is that everyone, young and old, with professional or intermediate knowledge of picture-taking, can and will see it.
For this reason, every photo you submit for a written story or post on social media should have your unwavering support. Give it a once-over and ask yourself if it visually tells the story you want told. Will it lower or raise expectations? Don’t be scared to ask friends to look over your photo(s) before you hit the “submit” button. We review essays before publishing, so why change that routine for our pictures? Sometimes, all it takes is a second opinion to spur on our creativity.
Recognize that pictures and photos are “read”, so they should have a strong beginning, middle and end.
No, I’m not an English teacher, but it’s true. We have a tendency to look at recognizable features in photos before moving on to their abstract bits. We commonly register the emotion on the face of the subject before we register the colour of their shoe, etc. We consider the central point, or dare I say “focus” of the photo to be, quite literally, the sections of the picture that are “in focus”.
To step-up your pictures, knowing how people respond to them is important. Scientific studies are published constantly, so it is definitely an area worth looking into.
Take ownership over the work you put into taking your photos.
Getting the perfect shot takes time. Use watermarks, or at the very least, start adding your name to the metadata of your pictures before you send them into the web. Adding these details could help you get hired in the future and will make it infinitely harder for others to steal your work.
Finally, don’t shy away from pulling the trigger.
This may be the most obvious thing you can do to improve your picture-taking routine, but trust me, it’s worth repeating. Scratch all of the elaborate rules that you may have learned. If rules get in the way of you taking that decisive shot, or you feel awkward and as a result you shy away from taking the photo, then that’s one photo you’ll never get back.
Sometimes it may seem risky to pull out a camera. It may feel intrusive, selfish, or rude, but at the end of the day… think of the thrill you’ll get when you see the final result on your computer.
Have questions? Want to find out more about Manuel? You can reach him here.
By Manuel Baechlin, Vice President (Marketing)
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]]>The post Nine things to know before accepting your offer to j-school appeared first on Carleton University Journalism Society.
]]>So, you’ve been admitted to Carleton University’s journalism school. How unfortunate.
Just kidding! I sincerely offer you my heartiest congratulations. Should you choose to accept your offer, you have an incredibly exciting, fast-paced and educational four years ahead of you. You definitely chose the right school to apply to, as no other university or college journalism program in the country has quite the same historic and prestigious reputation as Carleton’s.
But that’s just it — how do you decide if journalism school is actually for you? I’ll be honest, in my three years at Carleton, I’ve seen a fair amount of j-schoolers crash, burn and drop out — but I’ve also seen many students thrive in the program. While it’s difficult to determine which camp you’ll fall in before you actually start taking journalism courses, there are a few characteristics that tend to define those who make it through four years at Carleton j-school in one piece.
So here’s a list of nine things to know before accepting your offer to Carleton journalism!
#1: You should be the type of person who enjoys being busy.
The journalism lifestyle is not one of leisure. Following first year (which will likely be a little overwhelming, since most of you aren’t familiar with a university workload), you can get used to having one or two journalism assignments due each week, in each of your journalism classes. Granted, they’re generally relatively small assignments, but if you’re looking for a laid-back post-secondary program, Carleton journalism is not the place for you.
However, if you’re looking for a program that requires a decent amount of hard work (which will pay off, considering the program’s reputation across the country), then CU’s j-school might just be the place for you! This will prepare you well for the industry, should you pursue a career in it, as journalists can regularly expect to work more than 40 hours a week (as well as expect to clock in during evenings, extremely early mornings, weekends and holidays).
#2: There’s no such thing as a beat anymore.
If you’re looking to attend journalism school and write only one type of article, you’ve got another thing coming to you. While Carleton does have a reputation among journalism schools to be politically-leaning in terms of beats (which would make sense, since it’s located literally only 10 minutes away from Parliament), the school does offer the opportunity to explore many different avenues of journalism — and will expect you to, as well. Most newsrooms can’t really afford to have ‘beat’ reporters anymore. Sure, most journalists probably have an area of reporting expertise (particularly science, health and finance), but reporters need to be versatile enough that they can cover any kind of story, at any moment. Since Carleton is known for producing top-notch journalists, it makes sense producing students who can fit these roles remains a priority.
#3: This isn’t a degree that’ll make you a lot of money.
This truly should not come as a surprise, and if it does… well, I admire your optimism. According to Glassdoor.com, the current average salary of a journalist is around $50,000, with the highest being $91,000 and the lowest being $37,000. This isn’t terrible, but considering only very few people actually reach the apex of journalism salaries, as well as the industry’s movement towards freelancing as more and more journalists are being laid off, it’s something to think about. Depending on the type of lifestyle you wish to have following graduation, you really need to consider whether getting a journalism degree (which, at Carleton, can cost close to $34,000 if looking at tuition alone) is realistic for you. This isn’t a field for the light-hearted — journalism is for those who truly love the discipline, regardless of what it pays.
#4: You don’t need to love multimedia, but you need to be willing to work at it.
I will admit it, for quite a long time, I was disappointingly bad at multimedia journalism. I just couldn’t seem to grasp the basics of audio, video and data visualization. While the first two years of the program emphasize written journalism mostly, third year and beyond will see a serious focus on crafting students’ multimedia skills. If you’re not the type of person who performs well in front of, nor behind a camera, then that’s totally fine! You don’t need to love multimedia to be a good journalism student, but you do need to be willing to work at it, and be realistic in the fact that most news organizations now look for well-rounded individuals who not only know how to write strongly, but know how to plan, report, record and edit audio-visual works, as well.
#5: Pressure is a journalist’s middle name.
There’s a reason why, in every journalism movie, all of the main characters seem to be sweating and out of breath all the time. Those dark circles are the result of true method acting — and getting oneself into the mindset of a journalist is being stressed all the time.
Like I mentioned before, you’ll have to get used to weekly weekly deadlines second year and beyond, but you’ll also have to get used to these lovely things called newsrooms, where you’re thrust into a classroom for six hours with your classmates and expected to put together one to three stories each — individually or as a group. Don’t worry, it’s not actually that hard (and if you’re the right kind of person, you’ll probably find it pretty fun). But pressure is all part of being a journalist, and definitely part of being a journalism student.
#6: If you like scholarships, this is the program for you.
The nice thing about being at a national-renowned program, regardless of the field, is that the school is never void of scholarships to dole out to its top students. Of course, there’s the opportunity to earn up to $4,000 each year if continue to maintain an 80 per cent overall average in university (and if you finish high school with a certain average, you can learn more about entrance scholarships here).
Additionally, the School of Journalism and Communication has a huge number of scholarships they give out each year to journalism students based on grades, demonstrated interest in certain types of journalism, etc. (For example, if you manage to maintain an 85 per cent average in a given year, you’re automatically eligible for an extra $1,000 on top of your entrance scholarship — amazing!) If you’re a stickler for grades, you can reel in a decent amount of cash just doing well in school, often way more than what you’d earn through a part-time job during school.
#7: You need to be willing to wait for the exciting bits.
If you’ve ever heard a Carleton journalism student speak candidly, they’d probably say first year is both the easiest and the worst year of the program. While the school is slowly making progress in improving the two first-year journalism courses that are required to be taken by every student in the program, you don’t actually do a whole lot of hands-on reporting in your first year. The school expects you to focus more on journalism history and theory (while throwing a few reporting assignments in there here and there), as well as taking a large variety of courses so you can figure out what subject you want to minor or double-major in — as all journalism students are required to at least minor in on other field. So, if waiting until second year to do ‘real journalism’ sounds like an absolute nightmare to you, maybe consider attending another school. However, if you’re the type of person that enjoys learning the academic bits of a skills before being thrust directly into it, then Carleton journalism is probably for you!
#8: Pursuing journalism as a career requires more than just good grades.
Of course, like I said before, earning good grades can open a lot of doors for you as a student and student journalist. However, when applying for internships/jobs during and after the span of your degree, it is expected that you will have pursued some kind of publication opportunities during your time as a student to build up a little something-something called a portfolio. (If you want to see an example, allow me to shamelessly plug my own.)
Writing for the different student publications on campus, freelancing, etc. are all things that are generally expected of interns and new journalists who are looking to break into the field, and the quality of your portfolio is often a lot more important than the grades you got in certain classes. Of course getting good grades are important (especially since you’ll want to do well enough that your professors can and will attest to your abilities as a journalist by serving as references), but journalism is a degree in which you need to often make opportunity for yourself, and do a lot of work outside of the degree in order to obtain the qualifications that are required for more entry-level gigs.
#9: You need to have a certain level of empathy and people skills.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be an extrovert in order to be a good journalist. In fact, introverted individuals often make the best journalists, as they tend to possess two qualities extroverts sometimes lack: listening skills and empathy. Journalism is a discipline that almost entirely revolves around working with and for members of the public, who are often disenfranchised people who are going through particularly tough times, or are representing a group of people who have been put down by society.
Interviewing — the core element of a journalist’s research — is more than just asking questions. It’s about connecting with people, and in order to do so, you need to listen, hear and understand what they’re saying, as well as possess the ability to empathize with their situation (from a journalistic distance, of course). A good journalist possess technical skills, yes, but they also possess people skills — which are arguably the most difficult to develop, if you don’t already have them.
Well, there you go, folks. My top nine things to know before you accept your offer to Carleton’s j-school. I hope I wasn’t too candid, and didn’t scare too many of you away — attending journalism school is truly a unique experience, and while others can give you advice as they see fit, whether you will enjoy it is only really a decision you can make on your own.
So, once again, congratulations to all of you who have already received their letters of admittance, and I wish you the absolute best of luck in your final decisions!
By Pascale Malenfant, Vice President (Internal)
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]]>The post Winter blues go away: How to keep motivated as a journalism student appeared first on Carleton University Journalism Society.
]]>Let’s face it everyone, the days have gotten shorter, the winds have picked up, and the temperatures have dropped. Winter’s in full swing and with the break coming to a close, it’s normal to be worried about switching back to “school mode.” Journalism students are always on the go, so it’s especially easy to burn out.
We want you to get the most out of your education and remember why you came to Carleton! To help you get back on track, here are some great tips and tricks for staying motivated during any season.
Absorb the News
Yes, that’s right! I know I’m sounding like all of your professors right now, but it’s important to remember why you wanted to become a journalist in the first place! A few bad marks do not mean that you weren’t meant to be a journalist; it’s just preparing you for the future. Criticism is apart of the game, and we should welcome it — it’s the only way we can get better. So, go back to your happy place, listen to The Current and pretend you’re on the air with Matt Galloway, or watch primetime news on CTV with Lisa Laflemme, or read the Ottawa Citizen’s ‘One in a Million’ feature stories with Bruce Deachman. Go back to the great journalists you admire and see how you can become like them! I guarantee a spark will go off and you’ll soon be back at your desk creating stories again.
Practice Writing
Sometimes we forget our passions, what we are curious about, and what we want to write about. It’s hard to write what we care about with so many assignments looming over us. So my next piece of advice would be to sign up for a club, paper, or blog and find things that you like to write about. This is a great way to connect with your own interests and gives you some great practice of finding sources, conducting interviews, and making deadlines. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect, you won’t regret the time you put into it, especially when you get great feedback on your writing.
Stay Social
A great way to stay motivated is to network! Either through meeting people in the same program as you, meeting with your professors, or reaching out to new journalists for tips, you’ll really start to feel more connected to the journalism community. Once you’re a part of the community, you’ll never want to leave! A great way of socializing with your peers is finding people in the class and messaging them on social media, see if there are any journalism group chats to be a part of, and (of course) come to JSOC events!
Take Breaks
Yes I said it: take breaks! Sometimes you just need a small moment to yourself. If a story isn’t coming together or you can’t think of anything else to write, give yourself 10 minutes, and I’m sure something will come. Most times, we get a footy brain from lack of sleep, lack of nutritious food, and plainly just doing too much work in one day. So if you’re staring at an assignment that you just can’t finish, go work on something else, exercise, grab a snack, get some fresh air. Do anything that will give you a moment of relaxation and you’ll soon have your writing juices flowing again.
Hopefully some of these tips will help you stay motivated during the cold winter season and help you feel good about the coming months.
Remember, journalism is what you make it; have fun with it!
By Rachel Fiset, second year representative
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]]>The post 10 self-care tips for the winter semester appeared first on Carleton University Journalism Society.
]]>With the holidays coming to an end, it’s more important than ever to relax and destress before the winter semester begins.
During the academic year, many students push themselves to the limit so by the time the break comes, they are exhausted.
According to Make School, knowing how to practice self-care is a great way to prevent burnout, minimize stress and it helps overall health.
With the rest of your time off, consider using it to recharge and reset by focusing on you!
Here are 10 self-care tips I recommend for students:
Take a break from the screen
Since the beginning of the pandemic, students have been glued to their computers trying to get works done. Make sure you are giving your eyes a break by not looking at your phone or computer.
Get some fresh air
Even though it’s cold, bundle up and get outside. Staying indoors is bad for your immune system and mental health as human need vitamins from the sun, such as vitamin D, to stay happy and healthy. According to BBC the daily dose of vitamin D can help our immune system.
Check in with yourself
Understanding what you mentally and physically need is important for figuring out how you can feel the best you possibly can!
Create a proper sleep schedule
During semesters, many students pull all-nighters to get assignments done. Take this time off to catch up on sleep and get into a better routine.
Move your body
If you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk or laying in bed, make sure you do something to get your body moving. It can be working out, yoga, going on a walk or even just blasting music and dancing to it.
Hydrate and eat regularly
Falling out of proper eating habits can be easy when under stress so take this time to make healthy meals. Sit and focus on eating without the distraction of work and Netflix.
Get in touch with friends and family
Because of social distancing, seeing friends and family is limited, but call them to catch up! Schedule video calls for a stronger face-to-face connection
Try meditation and mindfulness practices
This can help calm your brain now and keep you focused. Download apps that provide guided meditations.
Spend time with animals
If you have a pet, play with them, go for a walk, or just sit and pet them.
Relax!
Do whatever you find to be calming, while you still have the extra time to do it. Make time for the things you love to do.
These tips should be kept in mind all year, not just during the winter and summer breaks. While achieving high grades is a priority for many, burning yourself out is not worth it in the long run.
By Rebecca Weston, third year representative
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