Husna Afzal – Page 4 – College Admission at Loyola

How to Stay Focused in Class

By Husna Afzal | February 6, 2019

One of the most difficult thing I have faced in college is staying attentive and focused during my classes. Because I am a commuter, I try to take the earliest classes possible so that I can go home before before it gets dark. So yes… I take 8:15 a.m classes, and yes it can be quite difficult. I thought i’d share some tips on how to stay awake and attentive so that you can pay your money’s worth and actually pay attention in class!

First and foremost, you need to stop those allnighters. Yes, I know sometimes its extremely necessary, but time management is key. You need to learn to balance your time throughout the day so that you don’t have to pull an allnighter. Getting good sleep is the KEY to success in classes.
Eat a healthy breakfast! Many students skip breakfast but it is extremely important because it keeps you energized throughout the day and avoids unhealthy snacking.
Avoid sitting with friends. I know class can be fun with friends around, but if you notice yourself not paying attention when your friend is next to you, just establish it between the both of you that it will make a difference in both of your performance in the class.
Put your phone on silent and keep it in your bag! This is one of the biggest distractions because after going through all of the other distractions, your last resort is your cell phone. It is definitely difficult at first, but either sacrifice it for an hour or get a bad grade that’s stuck with you forever. Your pick.
Take notes, ask questions, have a goal. You need to focus your attention to what you need to know. Ask yourself questions, do I know this material? Don’t just copy what the teacher writes on the board, understand it.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and interact in the class, chances are, someone else has the same question. Also, a lot of the time, we over think what we want to know/say so don’t let that get the best of you.

Shifts in Body Image

By Husna Afzal | January 30, 2019

How crazy is it that the idea of body image has shifted tremendously throughout the years? But, what even is this idea of body image? Body image is a person’s perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about his or her body. It includes how these feelings are affected by exogenous and endogenous factors, and how these feelings subsequently affect behavior.

At first, body image issues revolved around women with eating disorders and women who were concerned with their weight. It is known that research on eating disorders led to research on body image. This, of course, suffered many consequence such as

Body image limited to women
People with eating disorders
Only pertains to body weight and shape

Body image is such a vast topic and has problems and effects such as:

Effects of specific physical characteristics
Physical appearance in diverse contexts (cross cultural)
Physical appearance/body image in medical and allied fields (medical conditions, cosmetic/reconstructive surgery)
Factors that affect positive and negative body image across the lifespan (aging)
Social media effects, neurological effects (unrealistic standards)

It’s crazy to see how quickly ideas about the ‘ideal’ body image have changed across time periods. A lot of times it went hand and hand with the fashion sense of the time. In Egypt, women were seen as equal and were typically slim. From the middle ages through the renaissance period, a number of images suggest that fleshiness and a fuller female figure was the ideal. What I typically think of is a portrait of Aphrodite. Then, it began to shift quickly. Here is a run down of some time periods that really captured the ideals:

1800s: butt enhancers worn under dress and corsets, narrow waist
1. late 1800s – full bustle in the back
1920s: loose dresses, short hair, less emphasis on curves
1950s: fitted dresses and skirts come back to show off hips
1960s: mini skirts and bikinis- thin ideal returns –> eating disorders increase
1980s: thin and FIT
1990s: boyish – super thin returns

Body image issues lends itself a lot to many eating disorders, self consciousness, body shame, and other critical components. Loyola is offering a Body Image Lab and discusses a lot of the issues in this particular topic. It is definitely a fascinating class, and I 100% recommend you all to take it if you would like to learn more about the historical context of this transition as well as create your own research in this field!

Cold Weather Hits Chicago

By Husna Afzal | January 28, 2019

As many of you may know, Loyola never cancels classes. At least for the 4 years I have been here, not once did any amount of snow or low temperature stop Loyola from holding classes. However, one of the coldest air masses will hit the Midwest this week. The temperature in Chicago is predicted to fall to record and dangerous lows on Wednesday. After seeing a high of about 34 degrees today (Monday), it will shortly drop to zero and Wednesday is expected to drop to -23 degrees, this is a record compared to the year 1985, dropping to a low of -27.

The lows Tuesday and Wednesday could break records set in 1966. They’ll also feel much worse with wind gusts up to 30 mph, which will make it feel as low as negative 50 degrees, according to the weather service. But there could be as much as a 30-degree disparity from the north to the south end of the state, while lakefront communities could get a small reprieve, but that largely depends on how much ice cover there is on Lake Michigan.

Loyola faculty is monitoring the forecast over the next 24 hours, and they plan to notify the campus community of any potential class schedule changes or cancellations by 2 p.m. on Tuesday. This is a big deal for Loyola students, as this never really happens.

The weather on Wednesday will be very dangerous, and it is important that all individuals take caution. Be sure to wear layers of clothes, cover exposed skin, be outside as less as possible, stay dry, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. These beverages interfere with the normal physiological defense against cold and can actually increase heat loss.

With a wind chill of -18°F to -35°F, frostbite can occur in 10 to 30 minutes if skin is exposed. Please be safe and stay warm!

Addressing Mental Health on Campus

By Husna Afzal | January 22, 2019

Mental health refers to our cognitive, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing – it is all about how we think, feel, and behave. Mental health can affect daily life, relationships, and even physical health. Mental health also includes a person’s ability to enjoy life – to attain a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.

It is not possible to reliably tell whether someone is developing a mental health problem; however, if certain signs appear in a short space of time, it may offer clues:

Withdrawing from people or activities they would normally enjoy.
Sleeping or eating too much or too little.
Feeling as if nothing matters.
Consistently low energy.
Using drugs more than normal (including alcohol and nicotine).
Displaying uncharacteristic emotions.
Confusion.
Not being able to complete standard tasks, such as getting to work or cooking a meal.
Persistent thoughts or memories that reappear regularly.
Thinking of harming one’s self or others.
Hearing voices.
Delusions.

Almost 1 in 5 Americans experiences mental health problems each year (18.5 percent). In the United States, in 2015, an estimated 9.8 million adults (over 18) had a serious mental disorder. That equates to 4.8 percent of all American adults.

A large proportion of the people who have a mental disorder have more than one.

In the U.S. and much of the developed world, mental disorders are one of the leading causes of disability.

Mental health is subject to some disorders such as anxiety, phobia, OCD, PTSD, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc.

To address mental health on Campus, Loyola will be holding a circle session on campus!

3:30-5:00pm | Tuesday, January 22
Regis Hall, Multi-Purpose Room
Co-Sponsored by Student Government of Loyola Chicago, and featuring the Wellness Center

Individuals will meet and gather in a circle. Circles are a restorative justice practice that foster open dialogue, honesty, and attentive listening. Circles are a way to build and sustain communities based on authenticity, honesty, and empathy. They may also be used to provide healing and closure after a difficult group experience.

Privacy is a crucial component of the OSCCR. All information shared through mediation or other conflict resolution services will be kept private, with two exceptions: 1) If there is mention of a serious violation of the Community Standards or law, a staff member would be required to act upon this information as appropriate and to ensure the safety of the community. 2) If a staff member becomes aware that someone may be in danger of serious, imminent harm, they would be required to address the situation as appropriate to ensure the safety of the community.

Last First Day as a Rambler

By Husna Afzal | January 17, 2019

How bittersweet, the time has come, where it will officially be my last first day of my undergraduate career. It seems as if just yesterday I was a Freshman entering with no clue how to handle college level classes, making my way to different buildings and commuting almost an hour and half everyday. Also not knowing what you’re truly passionate for is something so challenging during the first few years of Undergrad and is something I personally struggled with. Today, I stand confident during my senior year, and finishing strong.

Something I told myself this winter break, was to not let senioritis get the best of me. As hard as that is, I feel confident that I will hold strong till the end. I recommend you all to do the same, whether you are a senior or not. Make a plan for this semester and aim high.

Some stuff that I do to make sure that I am on track is put down all my important dates on the calendar for this semester. That includes quizzes, labs, exams, papers, etc. The first week, that is what I primarily focus on because I know if I push it any later, I most likely will get caught behind, or just won’t do it because I will be so busy. Doing this, REALLY put me in the zone and got me to do stuff on time, especially studying for exams on time and not cramming when I realize I have more than 1 exam in a week or day. Include all of your finals slots. Yes its in 15 weeks, but it will definitely help you half way through the semester when you definitely WON’T do it.

Another thing I do is calculate my cumulative GPA. I know. So unnecessary. But no, really. Do this under https://www.luc.edu/advising/gpa_calculator.shtml and it will help you so much! I used to never do this my first two years, but now I do this in the beginning of each semester. The reason I do this is because I set a goal cumulative and/or overall GPA I would like based on this semester and figure out what grade I need in the class. Obviously, you should aim for an A always, but if I ever feel like I am falling into a B category, I kind of freak myself out and tell myself I won’t get a certain GPA and it makes me work hard for the A. It also kind of helps to not beat yourself up over a grade. It may not work for everyone, but I think it definitely makes me realize how I need to work for the A and to not slack off during the middle of the semester.

Additionally, I have told myself to incorporate more social time. A lot of times, I struggled with social time, where I would have too much, or too little. I definitely want to focus on balancing the two so that it doesn’t become a stressful semester and I can enjoy the last bit of memories I have left here at Loyola.

Make the most out of every semester, whether you’re a Freshman or a Junior. Take the endless snapchats, create study groups, explore the city, force yourself to go the library, let yourself get a bag of chips and watch Netflix. Whatever it may be, just try to do some of the things I suggest, it definitely will help rather hurt you.

Pre-Christmas at Loyola!

By Husna Afzal | December 6, 2018

The Damen Student Center had its Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony! This year’s event was held on Thursday, November 29th, at 5 p.m. in the Damen Student Center Atrium. The tree was officially blessed by our partners in Campus Ministry and was officially lit at approximately 5:10 p.m.

Damen Student Center provided a chocolate fountains (and all the trimmings), gingerbread house making, a synthetic ice skating rink (skates provided), and pictures with Santa Claus! There was also plenty of hot chocolate that was served with yummy marshmallows and chocolate!

Here is a link with all the pictures, and if you missed it this year, be sure to stick around for next year! It is open to the community as well!

https://loyolachicago.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000JzTp1C2sMdA/G0000bU32tDdfm3k/Annual-Damen-Christmas-Tree-Lighting-Ceremony

Finals Breakfast 2018!

By Husna Afzal | December 6, 2018

Finals are approaching faster than it may seem, and as nerve wracking that sounds, the bright side is that winter break is almost here! You should be preparing for finals because you’re going to have a lot of reviewing to do, depending on how many exams you have, whether they’re cumulative or not, and the level of easiness or difficulty of the content.

You should also know when your finals are scheduled, and if you don’t, here is the link: http://www.luc.edu/academics/schedules/spring/exam_schedule.shtml

NOTE: Make sure this matches up to your syllabus, and if it does not, bring this up to your professor.

Now enough of the scary stuff, FINALS BREAKFAST IS ALMOST HERE.

Finals breakfast takes place at the end of each semester, the Tuesday of every finals week! The fun part of it is that its at 9PM instead of the morning, so take a break from the stress and get together with friends. Take advantage of the free food, after all, food makes everyone happy.

I wish everyone the best of luck on finals! Do the best you can, make sure you have tons of caffeine, and be optimistic. You won’t have to deal with this again until January 17th!

Remember: Finals Breakfast Fall 2018: Tuesday December 11, 2018 9-10:30PM in Gentile Arena

Just J-term it!

By Husna Afzal | December 6, 2018

Something quite unique at Loyola is the J-term. What is the J-term? January term is an condensed, intensive, two-week session. Courses are available online, on campus, and abroad to give you a variety of options to make the most out of your winter break. Get ahead and graduate early as J-term is one of the best ways to do so!

J-Term 2019 classes will meet for 10 days, Wednesday-Saturday, January 2-5, 2019 and Monday-Saturday, January 7-12, 2019.

Registration opened on Monday, October 15, 2018 and closes Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019. Students can register for a J-term class via LOCUS by selecting J-term 2017 from the term selector menu. There still is time!!

**REMEMBER: J-term is not part of the Spring term — Students can ONLY register for a maximum of 3 credit hours for J-term.

This is the best way for someone to fit in a tier 1 or tier 2 class! It will definitely pay off in the end and winter can get pretty boring sometimes too, so definitely take this into consideration! Similarly, you can enroll in the summer term and fit in any other additional courses as well.

Christmas Markets in Winter

By Husna Afzal | November 30, 2018

After Thanksgiving, one of the most exciting things to look forward to is Christmas time. Although I personally do not celebrate Christmas, the atmosphere that Chicago brings during this holiday season is amazing and you should definitely take advantage of the many fun things to do in the city, especially the Christkindlmarket! This year will be the 23rd annual Christkindlmarket where each year, people from all over the world visit the Christkindlmarket. The outdoor market in the Chicago Loop has become so popular and loved that any Chicagoan will tell you that they could not imagine the city without it. The Christkindlmarket is no longer just a German tradition, it has become a Chicago institution. The unique shopping experience, typical German food and drinks, as well as diverse holiday entertainment make the Christkindlmarket Chicago a preferred and popular destination. In 2016 and 2017, the Christkindlmarket opened two other locations at Naper Settlement and Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville to rave reviews. 2018 marks the inaugural year of the Christkindlmarket Milwaukee at the entertainment plaza outside Fiserv Forum. Admission is always FREE!

The Christkindlesmarkt is inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which began in 1545, the Christkindlmarket Chicago brings a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to Chicago. Chicago’s largest open-air Christmas festival was first held on Pioneer Court in 1996. The Christkind, a fairy-like being dressed in gold and white robes with a crown upon her golden locks, is the namesake of the Christkindlmarket Chicago. Christkind folklore dates back to the 1500s and stems from traditional customs: Parades during the holiday season were guided by one “grand” angel, the Christkind. Since then, and still today, she is the bearer of gifts to most children in German speaking countries, much like Santa Claus is in the United States. Traditionally, gifts are exchanged December 24th and delivered by the Christkind, who leaves gifts under the Christmas tree and disappears before the children can catch a glimpse of her.

One of my favorite things to do here is to get the expensive $7 hot chocolate and take an insta with it. Also you get a cute annual mug with it, so I would say it is worth it 🙂

If you guys ever get a chance, you should definitely check it out. It will be open until December 24th.

Nashta November

By Husna Afzal | November 18, 2018

Pakistani Students’ Association (PSA) hopes everyone is ready for the Thanksgiving holidays. As we approach the end of the semester, things can be quite stressful, but that is why PSA is inviting you to yet another exciting event! To celebrate a successful semester and to thank you all for your support, BREAKFAST IS ON US!!! We will be serving Halwa Puri with Aloo and Cholay, Seekh Fry, Naan, Paratha and Omelets along with Chai. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this popular Pakistani breakfast, halwa is a sweet that comes with a deep fried bread (puri) and is typically served with potato (aloo) and curries mixed of chickpeas (cholay). Seekh Fry is We will also be giving a run down of the upcoming spring semester! Bring your friends along and enjoy Nashta November!!!

When: Monday, November 19, 2018 from 11am-2pm

Where: Damen MPR South

Note: Loyola Students Only.

We look forward to seeing you all this Monday 11/19/18! This will be our last event of the semester so stay tuned for what we have planned next!

Our mission is to recognize the struggle and hardship facing Pakistan today and help alleviate these hardships through fundraising events, while simultaneously raising awareness about the culture and beauty of Pakistan. We hope to create a diverse group of members through our outreach and fundraising efforts.

Through many of our previous events taken place this year, we have raised over $1,500.00 and have donated this to the Dam Fund in Pakistan. PSA could not have done this without the help of Loyola students, so we thank you all!