Studython has entered its fourth year this spring semester, and as the event has begun to take shape as a tradition at Cuesta College, the tutors and students have noticed subtle shifts between each study.
Despite the consistent promise of a free dinner and dessert, a range of activities aimed to relax and calm, and faculty attending throughout the night, tutors said that every Studython is a different experience and a snapshot into the lives of students. “At the end of the day, Studython becomes what each person puts into it, and the energy in the room, and how willing people are to learn or socialize, that becomes the vibe of the night,” said Jade Iskander, a chemistry tutor. “I know that the faculty and staff really push to make the night good for all, but to really make it great, you have to bring positive energy yourself.”
This sentiment was echoed by Ubay, who felt that expecting a huge burst of energy this late in the semester was unrealistic. “If you are here at Studython, you have already been studying for 16 weeks straight, and already it is a long semester,” Ubay said. “After all that grinding, I think it is hard to really dig for energy to study that might not be there, but it is fair to come here to socialize, perhaps check in on classmates and just check that you know what’s on the final, have dinner and leave, a free dinner goes a long way for some, I would tell them to not burn out and just treat themselves if that is what is best.”
More students attended on Tuesday than on Monday at the SLO campus, which might be explained by a multitude of reasons. “I was supposed to be here yesterday on Monday, but I couldn’t make it and was too tired,” student Juan Esteban said. “Mondays are difficult to manage.”
Iskander observed that the amount of students coming to Studython is a reflection of the class itself. “I have been in Chem201A three times, once as a student and twice as an embedded tutor,” they said. “If a class has a few social, outgoing students, they act as a glue, and if they go to Studython, then they will pull the others along, but if the class constellation doesn’t produce that, I mean, I had a class where I really had to work to get them in here, it was different.”
“On Monday, we had much more going on in chemistry, but we had a lot of faculty that presented just for that day, so it makes sense to be here for that,” said Xander Lubin, an organic chemistry tutor. Some students pick the days they come based on specific professors they would like to talk to, which also contributes to the flux in the number of students present at Studython.
Others find the way to approach the professor important as well, choosing to visit them on the less-visited North Campus in Paso Robles. “I like that I can just talk to my professor one-on-one here,” student Ethan Short said. “Here on the North Campus, it is less busy, so less social mingling, but at the same time, all the tutors and professors are right here, and it makes getting their attention easier.” He further pointed out that the North Campus is closer and safer for them. “It is a quicker drive, and going up The Grade at night is less appealing to me,” Short said.
While AI is an ongoing topic in academia, AI usage was felt to varying degrees across different fields. Math tutors expressed some disappointment that students were using AI services instead of talking to them about problems at hand, pointing out how much more tailored to the curriculum their help could be. “I am sitting here, but no one has come up to me yet,” said math tutorSam Williams. Others, like tutor Milan Richmann, found AI completely ignored at her table. “We have flashcards, and whiteboards, and we really can just help the students with whatever they need,” Richmann said.
The pre-med tutors host a unique event at Studython, where they present a slideshow lecture to pre-med students, covering all the vital information that will be on the final exam.
“We started this as embedded tutors, we made these slides, helped by faculty, and we changed as necessary,” Richmann said. “Overall, a lot show up, and it is fun to just repeat everything for everyone one more time; it is a good refresher.”
No Studython attendee studies nonstop for the full six hours, from 5 to 11 p.m., but that is not the expectation of any party, either. “A room full of students, food, things going on, there is always a social aspect of these things,” English Professor Mathew Fleming said. “But despite all the socializing that happens, building clarity and finding answers starts here.”
