Howdy folks! Have you ever had trouble trying to study hard memorizing those formulas for that math exam, cramming in all those dates in for history class, or even overcoming writer’s block for that essay in English that’s just around the corner? Well, maybe it’s about time you tried changing up your studying environment with the new Grade Saver 3000!

Alright anyhow, putting all the “as seen on tv” jokes aside, this semester has really seen an increase in my productivity using these methods. Check out the original article here for more information. Basically, there are a number of factors in your environment that impact how well your able to study and retain information.

Background noise. Some thrive better in an environment where there’s so much background noise that it becomes one collective sound that keeps them in the zone somehow. Others need to drown out all the noise by listening to their favorite tunes. Then there are also those who need absolute silence to make for a productive environment. Whatever fits best for you is what you should aim for when trying to find a place to study.

Lighting. This surprisingly affects me more than I thought. Dark rooms are just asking for a naping, but rooms with enough illumination keeps me awake and ready. Additionally, many students are using devices such as a laptops or tablets to complete assignments nowadays. Anything with a screen can pretty much harm the eyes over time especially if you find yourself studying way into the night. Using “night-mode” or “blue light filter” can help keep the harsh blue light that’s emitted from screens from straining your eyes. I would really recommend for heavy nocturnal studying.

Distractions. The reason I know I don’t always do well studying in the GSU library is because there are too many familiar faces in there. When you make one too many friends on campus, it’s hard not to make conversation when you encounter them. “While it’s been great catching up, I really have to get this essay done.” This is something you don’t hear me say very often because I’m just way to passive aggressive when it comes to this. Don’t be me. When you know there’s work that’s needed to be done, don’t put yourself in a situation that can make you become distracted.

So with that being said, this is what works for me personally: I like a warm, well-lit environment while being surrounded by other productive individuals and not too many familiar faces. It makes me comfortable enough to be able to study but not too comfortable to the point where I would easily find myself getting distracted. I also enjoy listening to non-lyrical study beats that are constantly being streamed live on Youtube. You can check some of them out here by clicking on this headphone emoji >>> ? . So, try these methods out sometime and see what works best for you.

The Las Vegas shooting that occurred Sunday night was without a doubt an act of terror when a man fired into a crowd during a music festival killing at least 59 people and injuring hundreds more. This tragedy is currently being labeled the as the deadliest shooting in U.S. history topping the nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida that happened last year. My heart goes out to all the affected families who’ve lost loved ones or had to witness such a horrific event. I couldn’t imagine what they’re going through at this moment. There is currently no known motive for the shooter actions.

What scares me is the frequency of such shootings. I don’t want to reduce this event as ‘just another mass shooting’, this tragedy is very heartbreaking, but nowadays, are families even able to grieve the loss of their loved ones without having to worry about the impending doom of another public shooting? It can sometimes be desensitizing seeing these catastrophic events unfold over the news just for another shooting to occur months later. Is there a way to stop these mass shootings? Is this a matter of gun control? Is this a matter of mental health issues? Is this a matter of poor upbringing and exposure to violence? I’ve recently written an essay on the gun control debacle and based on the statistics personally, I believe that stricter gun legislation is necessary, however perhaps it needs to be handled from another angle. Politicians can hold off on the debate of these policies in respect of those we’ve lost and that’s understandable, but once the dust settles what will America do about these issues?

On a positive note, I would like to focus on the heroes of this crisis. The great thing about this country is how we bound together in devastating events such as this. People were able to help each other out in the midst of the chaos providing aid and transportation to those who’ve been injured. After hearing about the tragedy, people are now actively donating blood to the victims of the shooting. Additionally, there are already several funding campaigns set up to aid the families of the victims. It’s hard not to get emotional when you realize how willing people are to help under a such a looming threat. These actions give me hope that we still value the sanctity of human life. I guess now it’s just a matter of that sanctity of life versus the profitability of gun sales.