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Supporting students’ wellbeing during the exam season

In our recent volunteering appeal, we asked our alumni to get involved in the School’s You’ve Got This campaign and share wellbeing advice with students who were struggling to cope with the busy exam season.

With the benefit of hindsight and experience, alumni from all ages, nationalities and backgrounds joined in to help students overcome the challenges of university life. We loved hearing their top tips to relax and reset during this busy period, and learning what worked for them when they were studying at LSE.

LSE was one of the most exciting experiences in my long life, which included the Second World War. Enjoy the stimulation of your brain – I don’t think you will experience that to the same extent again. The friends you make will be lifelong, wherever you all end up. What a gift. Exams are always stressful. You will probably pass, but even if you don’t, other doors will open, and no one could ever take away from you the experience of your student years at LSE.

Lily Blin (Social Science Diploma 1957)

Make career decisions for yourself, not to please your parents or teachers, or to prove something to your friends. If you are excited about what you’re doing, then you will do well.

Meredith Fuchs (BSc Economic History 1988)

Don’t hesitate to ask for help, whether it is from a counsellor or from a friend. If you have been silent about your difficulties, open up – there will be someone who can help. It is a learning process to ask for help. It isn’t easy, I know that. But it is a skill you will count on all your life. Don’t suffer alone.

Jo Iwasaki (MPhil Government 1998)          

Take a break! I went on a five-day meditation retreat right before exams and it helped me stay calm and relaxed, which definitely helped my performance. Cramming and studying for hours on end is not the best way to do well. Take care of yourself. Get rest and do stress-coping activities like meditation, exercise, sports or talking with friends.

Jacqueline Nader (MSc in Public Administration 2012)

Build relationships with other students on your course so that you can learn, study, work together and, most importantly, share the load and help each other. There were a lot of competitive students on my course who worked in silos, but there were others who worked collaboratively as a team helping each other, supporting each other, sharing the work and discussing assignments. Those were the ones who excelled the most and ended up ranking the highest in our class.

Alyssa Banner, née Curry (MSc Industrial Relations 2003)

If you need help, get in touch with the LSE Student Counselling Service. They gave me information on many low-cost options for therapy in London available to students. I was able to attend therapy with a trainee therapist and, not only did this support me during crunch times like exams, it also helped me transition into the working world after I completed my degree.

Katelyn Hanna Weber (MSc Statistics 2014)

While exams can be stressful at times, don’t forget to enjoy the process of learning nor the reasons why you first picked this degree and the School. Remember what got you here. Be proud and enjoy!

Roy Kwok (MSc Management and Human Resources 2015)

If you are struggling with school, reach out to your lecturer. Don’t stop going to classes or disappear. Speak to them if you have any problems, they will 100% try to help you as much as they can.

Kanpunnarin Amphunan (MSc Conflict Studies 2019)