The days leading up to final exams can be particularly stressful for students. A lot hinges on those final grades. Study sessions can extend late into the night, and sleep becomes more restless.

One solution to managing finals stress?

“A lot of dancing,” says Maryanna Schabert. She knows that feeling of finals stress all too well. She’s double majoring in psychology and cognitive science with a minor in Biology with plans to attend medical school and become a neurosurgeon.

Schabert is president of the Women in Psychological Sciences Club at UMD. This spring, the group collaborated with the UMD Techno Club to host an evening of music and dance in the UMD Kirby Rafters as “a way to have some fun and de-stress before finals,” Schabert said. The event, “Girls Just Want to Have Techno,” featured music played by UMD Techno Club DJs, along with educational posters about the positive effects of dancing on mental health and safety tips to consider when attending a dance club or festival.

“It's such a strong community, and we really care for each other,” said Mikayla Kaiser, vice president of the Women in Psychological Sciences club. Kaiser is double majoring in psychology and criminology with a minor in geographic information science, and hopes to work as a criminal analyst someday. For her, being part of a community of career-driven women has made all the difference in her academic engagement.

“I've applied to internships, which I never would have done before, because of the encouragement of people that I've met through my club,” she said.

Women in Psychological Sciences hosts multiple events each semester, including a series of discussions titled “Exploring Psychology,” where guest speakers, typically faculty members or graduate students, will give presentations on topics related to psychology. This past semester, Associate Professor of Criminology Jacqueline Buffington, PhD, spoke to the group about her work as a criminal forensic psychologist, a topic Kaiser found inspiring.

Next semester, the club plans to add more events, including nature therapy outings, trivia nights, and more. For Schabert, who aspires to work in healthcare, organizing people around common interests is key to building healthy communities.

“I'm very interested in the concept of treating a patient as a human being,” Schabert said. “How can we bring people into a community when they might not have one?”

Both Schabert and Kaiser have a lot going on, and while forming a new club has added to their responsibilities, it’s also provided them with a community of peers and a rhythm that sustains their academic energy.

“I love it up here,” Schabert said. “I’m doing incredible things and having incredible experiences.”
 

Header image caption: Rose Stephenson is studying communication and journalism with a marketing minor. The UMD Techno Club taught her new skills that she’s now applying as a freelance DJ.