2008 Woodie Awards
'Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Let Me Pass This Exam'
Students Turn To Good Luck Charms
Erica Deliz
Issue date: 3/15/06 Section: News
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College students have to juggle schoolwork, parental expectations, financial responsibilities, and ever shifting mental states. While having to handle so many responsibilities at once, it is not surprising to discover that some college students look to some unlikely sources for a little extra help.
"I pray the prayer of St. Francis whenever I get aggravated," said Lorie'l Johnson,18, a college student.
"When taking the Teacher's Certification Exam, I prayed over the testing material to ask God to guide me through successfully answering the questions and writing the essays," said Lucy Terry, a student at Mercy.
These two students are not the only ones getting extra help from an outside source.
According to Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition by Stuart Avyse, studies show that 56 percent of college students have at least one good luck charm.
"Whenever I wear my tee-shirt with my favorite band, 'Like Yesterday' on it, something good always happens to me," said Kristen Hughes, 21, a college student.
Hughes wore the shirt and met her boyfriend, who she has been with happily for several months.
On another occasion, Hughes, who attends Stockton College in New Jersey, wore the shirt and won $100 on the slots in Atlantic City.
"I had never won anything there before," said Hughes.
Johnson told The Impact that she carries a St. Christopher medal when she goes on trips. Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
According to Write Your Own Magic: The Hidden Power in Your Words by Richard Webster, Americans spend about $130 million a year on good luck charms.
It does not stop there either. Some college students also partake in rituals to bring them luck.
"Before I went to a Bryan Adam's concert, I did a wishing pyramid that I got from this book my sister gave me. You start by adding the word 'I', the following day you write 'I wish' underneath that. The next day you write 'I wish that' underneath, etc. At each of Bryan Adams' concerts he picks a girl to sing to on stage and I wished that he'd pick me. He did just that," said Katherine Becker, a sophomore at the University of Colorado.
"I pray the prayer of St. Francis whenever I get aggravated," said Lorie'l Johnson,18, a college student.
"When taking the Teacher's Certification Exam, I prayed over the testing material to ask God to guide me through successfully answering the questions and writing the essays," said Lucy Terry, a student at Mercy.
These two students are not the only ones getting extra help from an outside source.
According to Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition by Stuart Avyse, studies show that 56 percent of college students have at least one good luck charm.
"Whenever I wear my tee-shirt with my favorite band, 'Like Yesterday' on it, something good always happens to me," said Kristen Hughes, 21, a college student.
Hughes wore the shirt and met her boyfriend, who she has been with happily for several months.
On another occasion, Hughes, who attends Stockton College in New Jersey, wore the shirt and won $100 on the slots in Atlantic City.
"I had never won anything there before," said Hughes.
Johnson told The Impact that she carries a St. Christopher medal when she goes on trips. Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
According to Write Your Own Magic: The Hidden Power in Your Words by Richard Webster, Americans spend about $130 million a year on good luck charms.
It does not stop there either. Some college students also partake in rituals to bring them luck.
"Before I went to a Bryan Adam's concert, I did a wishing pyramid that I got from this book my sister gave me. You start by adding the word 'I', the following day you write 'I wish' underneath that. The next day you write 'I wish that' underneath, etc. At each of Bryan Adams' concerts he picks a girl to sing to on stage and I wished that he'd pick me. He did just that," said Katherine Becker, a sophomore at the University of Colorado.
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