By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Above, at Hamilton Library, Alex Cabello knows it's
just plain tough to focus on studying sometimes. He and
study mate Sunny Higa are freshmen in engineering.

---

Final exam time at UH
the ultimate stress test

A hot line offers tips to students
as they finish their papers
and study, study, study

By Linda Aragon
Star-Bulletin

Today's the last day of classes at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, and students are gearing up for final exams.

The libraries have been filled, students have desperately sought answers to professor-made study guides, and counselors have waited by the telephones.

Educational psychologists from the Learning Assistance Center are offering students Dial-a-Tip, a hot line for anyone in need of last-minute study help.

As pressure mounted and the clock ticked closer to exam time, students have been calling the center to ask: "How do I study for a foreign language exam? And what do I begin studying first?" said counselor Fefe Clarke.

"Sometimes, it has to do with 'I just can't concentrate.' Or 'I've spent hours, and I just read the same thing over and over again,'" Clarke said.

While the program's counselors can help with organizational skills, Clarke said: "We don't do any tutoring in this center in the area of content."

But even a million calls to the hot line won't get the job done, as students in Hamilton Library are finding out.

With a book and a piece of paper in hand, geography junior Laura Clint scribbled away on the last five pages of a seven-page paper due today.

The 21-year-old Makiki resident said it's not the exams that are troublesome. It's "any papers because you have to actually do the research and put the papers together," she said.

Olivia Federico, 20, from Kalihi doesn't like to study solo, so she buddied up with a couple of friends at the library, "To get motivated. To get started," she said. Federico, a sophomore majoring in psychology and speech, said when she has to study, "You'll find me more at cafes drinking coffee. It helps because you're around people studying. At home you'll have the TV on or auntie screaming. When you're here, you'll see the open book and you're more likely to study."