Study Tips: Finals

It is finals week!

Before you surround yourself with a monstrosity of textbooks and attempt to recall that lecture back from August, I want to share a few study tips that might be beneficial to you… I have compiled a small list, so I hope this helps!

1) Write with red ink

I have read several articles that the color, red, is most effective for enhancing memory, so I write in red ink when I am studying important concepts or formulas that I need to memorize. I believe it really works!

2) Go to the library

Honestly, it’s really difficult for me to study for a long time at home because I constantly find excuses to get up or become distracted with something else… I am much more productive when I go to the library because I am surrounded by people who are working as well. I get more done, and I am more focused in the end.

3) Keep a paper and reread it constantly

Everyone has their own way of retaining material, but it really helps me to write down all of the concepts that I am struggling on a few sheets of paper, keep them with me, and reread them several times throughout the day. It keeps the material fresh in my head, and I am able to recall it much quicker.

4) Set aside a specific amount of time

We all know the classic excuse: “I ran out of time to study…” That mentality just leads to cramming the night before an exam which is the worst (believe me.) Therefore, I set aside a specific amount of time each day, and I study for that full amount of time even if I don’t do it in one sitting.

I tell myself: “Set a time. Make it a priority. Do it. No excuses.”

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The semester is almost over, and we are right at the finish line… We can do this! I really hope this post was helpful, and please don’t hesitate to share your own study techniques in the comments. Good luck on your exams!!

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Breathe Easy…

Small problems have a tendency to invade our minds as we obsess, overthink, stress, and worry about them… Over time, it becomes hard to stop these negative thoughts, and the small problems ultimately end up feeling much bigger than they actually are. However, I have realized that most of the things that are stressful right now wont even matter in a few months, and our brain often over-analyzes situations that are actually quite simple. Everything will be sorted out the way it is suppose to with time, so don’t allow these thoughts and situations to create unnecessary chaos in your daily life. Instead, remind yourself that most of the stress that you are feeling right now is simply a cluster of small problems that the brain has manipulated to feel much bigger than they actually are.

“90% of what you are

stressing over today won’t

even be relevant in a year.

Breathe easy.”

~Wesley Snipes

What are your thoughts on this? Was this post helpful to ease some of the tension in your life? How do you deal with stressful situations? Happy Friday!

Just Beachy

A blanket of sand covered our toes, and the cool water brushed our skin.

Everything was just beachy.

I used to drive by the beach on my way to school everyday last year, and I would always gaze out at the peaceful solitude. Birds would occasionally fly through the wakening sky, and a light layer of fog would gently settle on the water. The sun would peek through the clouds while boats danced with the waves… I would long for that freedom as I sat in traffic preparing for another lecture-filled day. After months of fantasizing, I finally stepped into the water for the first time this summer, and I was so lucky to have had such great company. I had so much fun; thanks y’all! 

Do you enjoy going to the beach? Anything exciting coming up? What is your favorite thing to do during the summer? Is there something that you often find yourself longing for? 

One More Week…

I see the elaborate tutus hung on the racks and admire the glittering tiaras set in careful stacks. The props in the basket are so very sweet. This show will definitely be a treat!

It is hard to believe that opening night for “The Nutcracker” is exactly one week from today, but I am looking forward to performing in the very first show of the 2018-19 season. I am so humbled to have been cast as the snow queen because it is one of my favorite roles in the entire ballet. As much as I love it, the snow pas de deux is has been very challenging physically and mentally as I try to get as close to perfection as possible. I want to leave the audience in awe this holiday season and perform to the best of my ability. I have one more week. Wish me luck!

Spinning… Spinning

The 2017-2018 season is quickly coming to an end, and we are mentally/physically preparing ourselves for our last two productions before the curtain closes for the summer. Rehearsals, however, have been delayed, and we now find ourselves trying to whip these shows together before we head back to the theater. On top of all of this chaos, finals week is rapidly approaching…

My brain is spinning…spinning

This is turning into a crazy week!

The Versatile Blogger Award

It is an honor to have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by one of my followers, Didi. 🙂

“Rules:

Thank the person / blog that indicated it
Include the blog link that nominated your blog for the prize
Select and nominate another 10 blogs to attend:

And write 10 facts about yourself to the person who nominated you for the Versatile Blog Award. By participating in this contest you must wear my logo above “blue and pink crown at the beginning of the post.“

10 Facts About Me

1. I have snorkeled in the Florida, Keys
2. I have a severe music obsession
3. Outside of the studio, I am actually quite clumsy
4. I have ridden an ATV and ended up pouring mud out of my boots
5. I have a major sweet tooth
6. I have been deep sea fishing and know how to bait my own hook
7. I am in the process of earning my drivers license
8. I have been dancing since I was 7 years old
9. Camping is physically and mentally therapeutic for me
10. I love traveling and being outdoors

I nominate all of my followers/readers who wish to participate! Be sure to paste the link to your post in the comments section so that your responses can be read and recognized. Thanks again to Didi!

Midweek Madness

One heck of a lot of work. Two dead pairs of pointe shoes. Three full show run throughs… These last three days have taken a lot of effort to plow through, and we are mentally preparing ourselves to be back in the theater Friday night.

This has been our week so far:

One hour we are drowning in the lake of countless other swans, and the next, we are royally waltzing across the courtroom to greet Princess Aurora. Then, we face an immediate tempo change to rehearse our guest choreographed modern pieces. Every now and then, we are given spare time in an open studio to practice understudied roles or to go over choreography that occasionally slips the brain.

*We have one day left in the studio… Am I the only one who finds that insane?

When something is important enough… ~Elon Musk

When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.

~Elon Musk

Do whatever it takes… It doesn’t matter who you are or what your dream is. If it is important enough to you, you will find a way to make it happen (despite ANY obstacles that may stand in your way). Make the most of every opportunity that you have to get closer to your goal. That clock is advancing… Are you?

Determination. Hard work. Strength. Passion.

Happy Friday! 🙂

Success IS Mental

Photo from the aquarium 2017 (Maysa)

Whether you think you can, or think you can’t- You’re Right.

~Henry Ford

I have been told this ALL MY LIFE, but I had never actually believed it. How could success be mental? Isn’t it physical? What does this even mean? Throughout the past year, I have discovered the truth in these wise words…

*I think back to November when I had to perform a difficult turn onstage. Out of all of the rehearsals, I had only successfully landed the turn ONCE before I had to take it to the lights. On the day of the show, I was terrified that I was going to fall in front of such a big audience. However, my attitude completely changed when I reached the spiraling moment. I told myself, “I am going to do this, and I CAN do this”. Without hesitation, I took off and landed that turn without fail! Was it just pure luck? It couldn’t have been, because I did the same thing with each of my 4 shows and landed them all! How is that for some mental success?

I am not going to bore you all with my large list of mental-success connections from this season, but my point is that you can do a lot more than you think you can! Sometimes all it takes is a really tough situation to prove to yourself that you CAN do it and you WILL achieve it, as long as you BELIEVE it. 🙂  Happy Saturday guys!