There will be many challenges during your college career. Most can be anticipated, such as tough exams and lengthy papers. But other issues—like personal illness, financial hardship, or the death of a loved one—can threaten to derail your academic goals and feel overwhelming.

After the incident in which the Parkland College mascot cobra recently attacked its handler and escaped, the administration at Parkland has made the choice to abandon the Coby the Cobra mascot.

Replacing the cobra as mascot will be the Fighting River Otters, a name that can still  be seen as intimidating but not as vicious as the cobra.

There are many reasons to live in a different place than your school is located. Perhaps you commute to save money living at home, like the independence of living on your own, or have a family. Maybe you’re taking classes online or are studying or completing an internship off campus. Whatever your reason, you’re not alone. According to a 2012 survey by Sallie Mae, 51 percent of 1,600 undergraduate college students lived off campus during the 2011–12 school year.

As the nation embraces the trend of healthier living, the Parkland College Student Government, Wellness Center, Parkland United for Student Health and Office of Student Life are working together to devise a proposal for a tobacco-free policy.

Health experts all over the globe are gathering more information to confirm that second-hand smoke can have a negative effect on individual health.

Getting involved in different activities and groups on campus can lead to a better performance in the classroom, as well as a more enjoyable experience while attending college. For this reason, students are encouraged to break out of their comfort zone and meet new people at school.

In contrast to most four-year universities, community college students are more likely to find friends they went to high school with in their classes. This makes it easier for them to form small groups of friends that they already know and might make the transition from high school to college easier.

However, students that keep to their familiar group and are either too afraid or unwilling to branch out and meet new people might actually have a harder time in the long run.

The value of getting substantial sleep can never be overestimated, especially for busy students. Homework, meetings, family priorities and other tasks often seem like they take precedence over a good night’s rest, and before-bed texts or email updates can lure weary students from proper slumber.

Bleary eyes and achy muscles are a few of the symptoms of poor sleep, but there are other effects that are less obvious. Lack of adequate, sound sleep can have long-term health consequences.

Even though it may sound counterintuitive, enough sleep is a key to academic success, and more importantly, your body and mind will feel refreshed and ready to take on whatever challenges are ahead of you.

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Sound familiar? This famous quote from Aristotle (384 BC–322 BC) is applicable when people are working together to reach a goal. With more brain resources and perspectives, there’s the opportunity for more success than if each person worked alone. Said another way, “Two heads are better than one.”

Group work is everywhere; collaboration happens in every academic major and in every career. In a recent Student Health 101 survey, about 40 percent of students reported working in teams on academic projects or other activities at least a few times a semester.