Hourglass Issue I 2022-23 Revised 10 14

october 2022 NEWS | 03
Struggling With Getting Back
Into the Swing of Studying?
Upperclassmen and Ms. Beirne share their advice after 3 years of
less-than-normal learning
CARLEY TAYLOR ‘23
Staff Writer
As we transition into a new school
year, one question plagues many students:
How do I learn to study again?
Our seniors, along with Baldwin’s
learning specialist, Ms. Beirne, offer
their best advice to concerned students.
During virtual learning, Ms. Beirne recalled the challenges
many students faced, saying, “While some students
enjoyed the endless time to study, others struggled emotionally
with the lack of structure, making studying difficult.”
Now the issue changes, as students worry
about returning to juggling both extracurriculars
and schoolwork as they did before the pandemic.
As far as basic study tips go, Ms. Beirne said that
it’s most important to use strategies that are active rather
than passive. For example, instead of simply reviewing
old notes, Ms. Beirne suggests redoing old homework
before assessments or using notes to create a mock test.
However, it’s important to remember that everyone
processes information differently, so exploring a variety
of methods is instrumental to successful study sessions.
“The more strategies you try, the more likely
you are to find what works for you,” Ms. Beirne said.
Ms. Beirne also said that one of the most important
parts of learning is remembering to take care of yourself.
While everyone wants good grades, sleep is just
as important, and studies done by Harvard show that
the material you study is best applied with proper rest.
For students interested in exploring new methods
of learning, our seniors offer some useful suggestions.
Penelope Furnas ‘23 said that one of her favorite ways
to get work done is setting a timer for an “unrealistic time”
to motivate her to finish faster. If history homework normally
takes you 45 minutes to complete, set a timer for 30 to
motivate you to move faster. Ms. Beirne supports students
using timers but added that it’s important to take a short active
break in between the timed sessions. This might mean
moving around, having a snack, or spending time with a pet.
Several seniors recommended prioritizing paying
attention to what teachers actually say, as opposed
to just writing down what they put on the board.
Annabelle McDonald ‘23 said, “Sometimes teachers
s a y
things in class that you
wouldn’t be able to find on their Canvas pages.”
Other seniors pointed out that it’s incredibly
important to spread study sessions out over a few
days, to avoid anxious cramming the night before.
Whether it’s finding the perfect music for your
study routine or completely rewriting your notes like
Izzy Thompson ‘23, the secret to learning varies from
person to person. And while the rumor that blue pen
helps memory is “definitely just a myth” according
to Ms. Beirne, it’s important to remember that learning
is a personal journey of trial and error for all.
Videogames’ Impact on
Mental Health
Could video games represent the future of mental health treatment?
NIKOLETTA KUVAEVA ‘25
Staff Writer
Can a video game help someone
struggling with depression
or other mental health issues?
According to the World
Health Organization, there has been
a 25% increase in anxiety and depression
worldwide since the start of
COVID-19. The issue is more prevalent
than ever, calling for more creative and
innovative ways to approach treatment.
Currently, psychiatrists have various
effective methods to help treat those
struggling with mental illness, including
therapy and medication, but research
is always ongoing. Recently, a surprising
new approach has become the focus
of treatment research: video games.
In the past, video games have been dismissed
because previous research has shown
that they can expose children to violence
and lead to increased sedentary screen time.
Baldwin’s new guidance counselor,
Ms. Davis, said, “It felt intuitive to think
[video games] had a negative impact on
attention span and aggression,” but “play
therapy has been around for a very long
time, [and although] you usually think of
it more with board and card games, why
can’t this same concept go to videogames?”
Studies from East Carolina University
(ECU) have shown that puzzle games like
“Bejeweled 2,” “Peggle,” and “Bookworm
Adventures” can significantly reduce
the severity of depression and anxiety,
leading to new interest in the treatment.
Researchers from ECU asked study
participants to play these games regularly
over the course of a month for 30
minutes at a time, and at the end of the
month, they screened the participants
for depression using a questionnaire.
Across the board, participants reported
decreased depression and anxiety.
Video games were originally created
to engage people. As Glenn Platt, a professor
from Miami University, said in an article
on VeryWellMind, “A critical quality of
a game—what makes it a game—is that it
is played voluntarily. Research has repeatedly
validated the importance of intrinsic
motivation for effective behavior change.”
Ms. Davis said, “[Games] engage
critical thinking and problem-solving
skills that can actually have a lot of positive
effects on mental health, like building
community, perseverance, and resilience.”
In addition, video games provide a
therapeutic distraction that allows users
to momentarily take their minds off their
worries. And, best of all, they are a lowcost,
easily-accessible treatment option for
those who are deterred from seeking mental
health care because of potential costs.
Video games are in no way a singular
solution to mental health issues, and
those who are struggling should always
speak to a medical expert. However, it’s
possible that video games could “disrupt
[mental] healthcare,” and provide a
valuable supplement to therapeutic sessions
and medical treatment in the future.
Design and graphics by Cynthia Zhang ‘24