2008 Woodie Awards
Working quirks, rituals into cycle of life
Vices: Students are superstitious when in doubt
By: Martha Ramirez
Issue date: 5/13/04 Section: Features
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Taking a sip of her coffee, Monique Macias, 18, struggled to stay awake while she was studying for her English midterm and began feeling more anxious as the night progressed.
It's the day of the test and Macias, still feeling uncertain, embraces the cross around her neck, smiles and enters her classroom.
She has on a cross her grandmother gave her when she was young and Monique considers it her lucky charm.
"I carry the cross my grandma gave me for good luck," Macias said.
Macias said she considers herself to be superstitious, so every time she has her cross on, she believes that something good will happen to her.
"I guess you sometimes feel you're not confident and need a lucky charm," Macias said. "It's something extra to carry."
She said she believes the cross played a huge role the day she received her driver's permit.
"I was very nervous that day," Macias said. "I grabbed my cross and it made me feel a little more confident."
There are sayings that a rabbit's foot brings good luck, or if a football player wears dirty socks, he will have a good game.
There is also the one where if a swimmer shaves his or her entire body, he or she will swim faster.
Although it is uncertain if there is any truth behind these theories, many students still participate in superstitions in spite of whether they believe that they work or not.
Bridgette Norman, 19, art history major is one student who has a particular way of preparing before a test.
"I normally carry a copy of my favorite book with me," Norman said. "I usually read a chapter before I take a test."
"Fight Club" is Norman's book of choice at the moment and she enjoys how reading it gives her energy.
"It's the mind set it puts me in," Norman said. "It's best to take a test when you have energy."
She said she admits not knowing whether reading a chapter of her book before a test makes her do better; however, it does calm her down before taking the test.
It's the day of the test and Macias, still feeling uncertain, embraces the cross around her neck, smiles and enters her classroom.
She has on a cross her grandmother gave her when she was young and Monique considers it her lucky charm.
"I carry the cross my grandma gave me for good luck," Macias said.
Macias said she considers herself to be superstitious, so every time she has her cross on, she believes that something good will happen to her.
"I guess you sometimes feel you're not confident and need a lucky charm," Macias said. "It's something extra to carry."
She said she believes the cross played a huge role the day she received her driver's permit.
"I was very nervous that day," Macias said. "I grabbed my cross and it made me feel a little more confident."
There are sayings that a rabbit's foot brings good luck, or if a football player wears dirty socks, he will have a good game.
There is also the one where if a swimmer shaves his or her entire body, he or she will swim faster.
Although it is uncertain if there is any truth behind these theories, many students still participate in superstitions in spite of whether they believe that they work or not.
Bridgette Norman, 19, art history major is one student who has a particular way of preparing before a test.
"I normally carry a copy of my favorite book with me," Norman said. "I usually read a chapter before I take a test."
"Fight Club" is Norman's book of choice at the moment and she enjoys how reading it gives her energy.
"It's the mind set it puts me in," Norman said. "It's best to take a test when you have energy."
She said she admits not knowing whether reading a chapter of her book before a test makes her do better; however, it does calm her down before taking the test.