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How to Approach Seniors During Exams 101

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If you are a lost and confused fresher, and are looking for tips on how to approach seniors for help during exams, read further!

With end semester exams on the head all students look for different ways so as to crack these exams. Some collect notes from the class topper, some prepare chits to hide in their socks, some stay up late for hours mugging up their texts, while some just stare into the abyss, and pray for things to work out. Among all these different students from different schools of thought, there is a group of the students who leech off seniors during exams.

As a fresher writing the exams for the first time, we’re all lost and confused. The towers of countless readings become our Everest, and actually reading them seems impossible. It is all so overwhelming and exhausting, and you have no idea where to begin or how to go about it. In situations like these, what can be better than a senior who gives you all the exam hacks and pointers?

Now, it isn’t that easy to find seniors who are genuinely willing to share their precious knowledge over these years. And even if they are, they are mostly too busy trying to figure their own mess out, forget helping a mindless, half-baked junior. But that’s where you need to know how exactly must one approach a senior.

For starters, take a cup of chai or a glass of iced-tea with you while approaching the seniors. This is an essential step so as to show them that you care and aren’t entirely heedless. Then, initiate a light conversation; ask them how they are or what their day was like. Try and ensure they aren’t already stressed. If they are (which they will be in most probability since they are way busier than you, for obvious reasons), try cracking a few jokes to mellow down the tension and lighten up the mood.

Once you see them smiling and giggling, and maybe suggesting going to grab a bite (which would be amazing for your situation), that’s your queue! But remember, you still don’t directly ask for help. You start by talking about your own preparations, and different things that are troubling you. Hopefully, the senior himself or herself will suggest tips or pointers that you were looking for in the first place. If not, you ask them if they faced similar issues in their time. Consequently, the senior will end up blabbering pointers that helped him or her. Once they start, they probably won’t stop until they have given you everything they have to offer. But then again, this varies from individual to individual.

Now, another important point to be noted is choosing the right senior to approach. Apart from the fact that the senior should belong to your department (obviously), (s)he should also, preferably, have a personality similar to yours. For instance, if you are a diligent student, an advice coming from a comparatively casual senior would not be of much help. Similarly, if you aren’t too concerned with getting the highest scores, an industrious senior would only make things worse.

The end semesters are definitely a tough period, especially when you are new and confused. Leeching off seniors is of course an option; a very practical approach, indeed. However, I would still suggest you to cut them some slack and invent your own methods. Afterall, you know yourself the best- your strengths and weaknesses. All the best for your exams!

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Aditi Gutgutia

[email protected]

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Floods of Bihar and Assam: How Do We Help

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Come monsoons, and the entirety of coastal India and Ganga basin fall victim to the heavy rainfalls. As one side of India faces acute water shortage, another side is cursed with deadly floods. 

Assam Floods

Traditionally, Assam has been prone to heavy floods due to both natural and artificial reasons. The Brahmaputra river is among the world’s top five rivers in terms of discharge, as well as the sediment it brings. Whereas, population, habitation, and deforestation through the years has led to higher sedimentation. Combined with the heavy rainfalls, floods are an annual occurrence.

Over 12 lakh animals have been affected by the floods. Kaziranga National Park has reported around 129 animal deaths, including 10 rhinoceroses- the world’s only remaining one-horned rhinoceroses. In order to escape the flooded Kaziranga, animals have been trying to cross the highway, and reach the nearest Karbi hills. Deers, tigers, and rhinoceroses have been scavenging for food and shelter in human areas. However, this is simply the tip of the iceberg; over 95% of the National Park is under water. 

As of 26th July, 27.15 lakh people have been drastically affected, the death toll stands at 80. Even though the worst of the rains are now over, residents are grappling for clean drinking water, food and basic amenities. 

Assam needs the help of the rest of India to rebuild itself.

Here is how you can help: 

  • Contribute to Assam Chief Minister’s Relief Fund on Paytm.
  • Contribute resources such as food items, utensils, clothes, toiletries and essentials at Goonj.
  • Contribute funds to Milaap, which would thus transfer the funds to Assam Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. 


Bihar Floods 

Bihar’s death toll has escalated to an appalling 127 and over 88 lakh people have been affected. More than 12 districts have been severely affected leading to a demand of 10,000 crores INR, and declaring it as a national disaster. 

As the water levels are gradually receding, people are going back to what was once their home. It is pretty sad to note that Bihar has been facing huge death tolls for the past few years, yet, both the State and Central government seem to have been ineffective at finding preventive measures. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told the Assembly on 16th July, 2019, that the state is “fully prepared” to deal with the flash floods. Despite the promises, the common folk continues to face atrocities. 

Not to forget the ghastly 1987 floods which claimed 1399 human lives and 5300 animals. Mainstream media has been shying away from covering the floods, thus leading to minimum to zero attention on their real conditions. 

Even though the situation has improved, and is accompanied by light showers, Bihar needs the community’s help and support to regain their normal life. Here is how you can help:

  • Contribute to Goonj. Basic amenities required, such as clothing, food, toiletries and miscellaneous.
  • Contribute to crowd-funding or other NGOs collaborating with the Bihar government. 
  • Contribute funds to Bihar Chief Minister’s Relief Fund on Paytm.

 

India in today’s date is facing nature’s proverbial wrath. It’s time that the government took precautionary measures in flood-prone areas to not only save lives, but to preserve valuable yet diminishing natural resources. 

Feature Image Credits: NDTV

Anandi Sen 

[email protected]

 

 


 

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Help God’s Own Land – Kerala

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In the worst flood of the century for Kerala, it has become difficult to keep track of reliable sources to provide practical support to our people. Read below to find a list of methods and organisations to support the cause and sufferers of Kerala.

Since the past two and a half months, Kerala has been in a state of despair. The monsoon season took a disastrous toll this year into what has now been termed the ‘worst flood of the century’. The Chief Minister (CM) of the state announced on Friday evening that the lives of 324 people had been claimed, over three lakhs had been displaced into relief camps, and the affected individuals were over two crores.

As a university with the student population hailing from diverse backgrounds and states, the University of Delhi (DU) has the responsibility to participate in helping the victims and the sufferers in every way practically possible. Apart from offering moral and emotional support to all our friends from Kerala, it is integral to contribute to the rescue/relief mission through donations.

Here are some authentic organisations which are accepting donations, and providing methods to serve the cause:

  • Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund

Pinarayi Vijayan said, “At this point of time, nothing can help as much as money.” In lieu of this, the CMDRF serves as the most authentic, secure and trustworthy way to donate money. The account details are as follows:

Account number: 67319948232
Bank: State Bank of India
Branch: City branch, Thiruvananthapuram
IFS Code: SBIN0070028
PAN: AAAGD0584M
Account-holder Name: CMDRF

Either go to the website- http://www.donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in, and fill the Online Donation Form by logging in, to be redirected to a payment gateway, or use any online portal to directly send the money to the aforementioned account.

The donor may use a Demand Draft, or cheques and address those to the Principal Secretary (Finance Treasure) and send to the following address:

Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund,

Secretariat,

Thiruvananthapuram – 695001

  • NGO Goonj

Goonj is an NGO located in various parts of the country, including Delhi-NCR. Along with money, the sufferers in Kerala are in dire need of numerous items. The NGO has a website- https://www.goonj.org/dropping-centres/ which has a list of all the places in Delhi where collections are being conducted.

The items required by the individuals trapped in the floods are bed sheets, blankets, undergarments, rice, dals, Dettol, torches, sanitary napkins, biscuits, tinned foods, candles, sleeping mats, sugar, and turmeric powder.

  • Kerala Rescue

This is an initiative undertaken as collaboration between the Government of Kerala, Kerala State IT Mission and IEEE Kerala Section, and it provides multiple ways to help the cause in Kerala. From monetary donations to volunteering services, you can provide your support in every possible way. For the stranded individuals’ families, there is an option to access the helplines and relief camps.

Here is the link to the website: https://www.keralarescue.in/

  • Paytm

The most accessible alternative for all students, Paytm has dedicated an option on its home-page which allows users to donate for Kerala floods. It is a safe option which only requires you to enter your details, log-onto the app, and makes the transaction as conveniently as possible.

Your BHIM UPI details are also of use for the same, and you receive a receipt in the mail which assures that your donation has been successfully accepted.

  • Amazon India

This is perhaps the most practical measure in terms of non-monetary donations to the state. The popular e-commerce giant has partnered with three NGOs, namely- Habitat for Humanity, World Vision India, and Goonj. On the website/app, there is a page dedicated to the donations for the affected in Kerala where each NGO has a wish-list of products, ranked in order of priority. As mentioned in the list above, the items vary according to the pressing need of the area in which the NGO is prominently delivering.

On the addition of the products to the cart in the usual way, select the gift registry address of the NGO (mentioned there) in the address portal, and then Amazon will deliver to the said address from where the NGOs will be responsible for getting those to the flood victims.

  • Uday Foundation

Uday Foundation, located in New Delhi, has a page dedicated to the Kerala Flood Relief Mission on its official website- http://www.udayfoundationindia.org/kerala-flood-relief-3/ and there is a provision to make donations of money and other items as well.

In order to make online donations to the victims through the foundation, use the following details:

Bank name: HDFC Bank

Branch: Adchini, New Delhi 110017

Account name: UDAY FOUNDATION FOR CDRBG TRUST

Type: Savings

Account number: 03361450000251

IFS Code: HDFC0004397

The cheques and demand drafts are to be made in the favour of “UDAY FOUNDATION FOR CDRBG TRUST”, and the same must be sent to the following address:

Uday Foundation,

13A/1, Adhchini,

Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110017

The same page also mentions the items that are needed by the victims, and also gives details of where to send the items (the head office is the usual address). The live social media updates by the foundation make it easy to keep track of the happenings in Kerala, and also provide the donor with a sense of belief that the donations have been delivered to the right place.

  •  Person Finder

In partnership with the government, Google has launched the following website: https://www.google.org/personfinder/2018-kerala-flooding to locate those who need rescue. According to multiple sources, every family in Kerala has at least one missing member, and it is significant to extend help by filling the form for those who can’t do it themselves right now. The network connectivity in the state, as expected, has deteriorated to an inaccessible condition. It is important for all of us to be vigilant about our peers or acquaintances that have families stranded in the state.

  • Kerala House

Kerala House is the official state mission on behalf of the Government of Kerala, located in New Delhi. As a highly reliable organisation, the place will be airlifting goods and necessities to be provided to the victims of the flood. The items must be delivered to the following address:

Kerala House, No. 3 Jantar Mantar Road,

Janpath, Connaught PlaceDelhi- 110001

The place is open for seven hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will be airlifting goods on multiple dates. Make sure to deliver your items at the soonest possible time, so that help can be extended earlier.

  • Flood- Kerala Emergency Numbers (App)

In a flurry of social media messages and pictures, it becomes difficult to keep track of authentic helpline numbers. This app on the Google Play store provides a list of such numbers that can be contacted by the victims and the ones searching for missing people in Kerala. By downloading the app through the given link- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.braveheartcreations.floodhelpinenumbers, one can keep others informed about the right numbers and people to contact.

It is important to note that the innumerable calls being made to helplines at the moment makes the numbers a tad unavailable to reach, but there are a number of options available as of now. Keep trying to contact the numbers mentioned in the app, and help is going to find the sufferers hopefully in time.

  • DONATE Kerala

In order to collect relief materials to support the needy in Kodagu, Aranmula, Pandalam and Pathanamthitta, Aranmula (districts in Kerala), Prateek Debnath and Sreelakshmi Menon have initiated a drive. The collection points are situated in Dwarka Mor and Connaught Place, from where the essential items will be flown to the affected population through Indigo Airlines.

The items will be transported from New Delhi by Friday, 24th August 2018.

One may directly drop the packed items at the given locations, or may coordinate with the following representatives:

Prateek Debnath: +918700377767

Anindita Debnath: +919560499602

Apart from these initiatives, there are many Malayalee groups in the various college of DU, which are providing comfort and practical support to the families of the victims in Kerala. Hindu College, Daulat Ram College, Jesus and Mary College, St. Stephen’s College, Miranda House, and Lady Shri Ram College have been organising informal collection and donation drives with affiliation to the Malayalee committees and the Student Unions of the respective institutes.

One member of the Malayalee community at Lady Shri Ram College, Athira Raj, voiced her advice to the ones willing to help- “Although rescue teams have saved lakhs of people, there are still lakhs who are stranded. Some, about whom people don’t even know. They try to call for help through Facebook posts. So people should keep an eye out for them.”

There is a strong wave of support for God’s Own Land right now in the institutes of Delhi, and it is our prerogative as human beings to participate in it for our people, who have given us countless memories through their culture, aesthetic atmosphere, warm locals, and home-like vacations.

If you have any further information on authentic sources of help, contact the undersigned or team DU Beat with the details. Our home is breaking, and we must stand united to keep it alive.

Feature Image Credits: Hindustan Times

Anushree Joshi
[email protected]

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Dealing with Depression-Induced Procrastination

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Struggling with depression and procrastination can be a huge battle. It feels like you can’t get over this, and you are overwhelmed with work to the point where you just give up. This battle can only be won if we try a little every day along with seeking additional help as and when we need it. 

The other day, I woke up in the morning and set a deadline to complete this article by 11 A.M.  As predicted, by 10 A.M. I had done everything including cleaning my room, taking a bath, eating breakfast, surfing the internet, even daydreaming but I hadn’t started working on this article. A lot of people might find this relatable, many of whom take this issue lightly, laugh it off and write ‘professional procrastinator’ in their tinder bio. After all, by the end of the day, they manage to. However, for some people, it’s a different story altogether.

You have assignments to complete, presentations to make, and articles to write but are unable to type a single letter on your laptop. Time ticks by and the motivation to work is still lost. You feel sad because you think you’re being unproductive.  You feel stuck and somehow, you accept this routine. You wake up every day with a hope that today would be different. People dealing with depression would understand this struggle. You somehow learn to live with it and just do enough to get through but it is so unhealthy. Depression acts as a roadblock to one’s dreams and ambitions. How to deal with depression- induced procrastination?  Well, this is what I have learnt.

Go slow. Take things at your own pace and stop looking at what you have to do as a long series of tasks, instead take it one basic task at a time. The key is to try and take the first step without thinking about everything else you have to do and once that is done, it becomes easier. Do not multitask. Focus on one thing at a time. Make a checklist which should not only include important tasks but also easier, smaller tasks like taking a shower or replying to pending emails. Start with the easiest tasks (or ones you like the most/hate the least). As you check things off the list, it will make you feel better. If you find out that you can’t even do that, let it be for a while; take a nap and try again later. It’s okay. Also, be realistic with your checklist.  Do not pack it without taking into account the amount of time you need to eat meals and to relax.  Reward yourself after you complete a task which you had been postponing for a long time and couldn’t get around doing. Another thing that needs to be kept in mind is to allow you to not get bogged down by perfection. Do it badly. You are allowed to fail or deliver less than perfect results of work. Take your time and never forget to be gentle with yourself.

However, this advice might not help some people. If your mental health condition has deteriorated to a point where you cannot function, seek a counsellor or a therapist. Seek help if you feel that it’s interfering with your life to the point where you can’t go about your day or feel burdened most of the time. Don’t lose hope, things do get better. All it requires is that you recognise your problem and seek valid solutions to it rather than indulging in self-loathing. Recognising that you have a problem and giving yourself the gift of additional help is what you need to get of this seemingly impossible rut.

Feature Image credits – Viral Novelty

Disha Saxena

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