Pacific University, located on the western edge of Portland, will be visiting Monday, October 30th! Take this opportunity to ask questions, network, and get a feel for college life!
We will meet in room F 36 at 11:45 AM
We’ll see you there!
Category: Uncategorized (Page 6 of 6)
The University of Puget Sound will be visiting this October the 25th to answer your questions. This is a great time for you to ask questions and begin networking for your future.
We will be meeting in room F36 t 11:35
See you there!
Specialty virtual fairs offer a convenient way to explore post-secondary options! We highly encourage any of our future first generation college students to register for this fair.
Students and Families:
- Use this platform to explore options and services that are available to you at the participating institutions.
- Expert-led educational sessions will guide you on maximizing the benefits of higher education.
- Visit institution booths and chat live with admissions representatives
- Participating students have a chance to win a $50 Starbucks gift card through a TikTok contest. Details will be emailed to registered students.
- This experience will be ADA and WCAG-compliant.
As someone who is entering their senior year of college, I am reflecting back on the different moments that got me to where I am. The good, the bad, and all the in between. I was a Churchill class of 2019 graduate who was a Churchill Cheerleader for three of those years, a graduate of the West End Academy by singing in Downing Street Singers and Concert Choir, and I was in all sorts of clubs. My main involvement in clubs was National Honors Society, Acts of Kindness Club, Women’s Empowerment Club, and Prom Committee. If I were to give any high school student advice, it would be to get involved as much as possible. Sure, some clubs are boring or extra work, but I would argue that it is worth it.
When I was applying for colleges, I was constantly asked to talk about extracurriculars. Colleges or future jobs want to know what sets you apart, what makes you different from the other candidates. While applying, it was so helpful to have different extra curriculars I could reference. However, I wouldn’t say the pros to getting involved were strictly revolved around applications. Auditioning to be in Downing Street was a spur of the moment thing. I was not involved in theater and didn’t have very many friends in choir. However, I knew I loved to sing. I decided last minute to not let my anxieties revolving around fitting in get in the way of one of my passions. Once I made it into the group, I knew that was the best decision I could have made. The years I sang in Downing Street, I became friends with people I had never talked to before. I was provided with a small little community that would have fun together, go on trips together, and bond together through our love for music. Moral of the story- please do not let the fear of fitting in stop you from trying new things. Everything is worth a shot.
Going off of my last “moral of the story” I wish someone opened my eyes to this harsh truth- you are not too cool for it. Meaning, I wish someone told me sooner that I wasn’t too cool to try out for Downing Street, or I wasn’t too cool to be on the prom committee. Did I literally think I was “too cool?” No. In fact, I think what was stopping me was my own fear, my anxiety. Everyone wants to “fit in” so bad. I did! About half way through high school is when I started to question, what does it even mean to “fit in?” Especially when everyone is trying to fit in, then what box is the correct one? Exactly! 16 year old Jenna was on to something! There isn’t a “correct” one. A box can be cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, whatever you want it to be. It can be really big, or kind of small. My box included cheerleading, singing, painting murals, debating political issues, youth groups, summer camps, etc. Make your box YOUR box. Don’t let other people tell you what your “box” should look like. Fitting in is a big, fat myth!
So far, it sounds like high school was pretty sunshines and rainbows for me. Let me be clear, it wasn’t. Sometimes life sucks, sometimes high school sucks. I am not here to tell you that life will make sense the second you join a club or two. Life is more than high school, or the problems that come with it. You won’t always feel pressure to fit in a box, you won’t always be applying for colleges, and you won’t always be asked “what are you planning to do with your future?” One of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard was my freshman year of college. Man, I wish I heard this my freshman year of high school. I was told “sometimes life just sucks, but all we can do is sit in the suck.” Sometimes life gives you lemons and you choose to make lemonade, but sometimes it feels like the lemons are miles away. My advice: please wait. Please sit in the suck for a bit. The sun will come, the lemons will ripen, and someday you will make some sweet lemonade. I remember feeling like the “there is light at the end of the tunnel” was a myth. I remember thinking my life would be like high school forever. Let me be the proof for you. It’s not! Life is fun right now, I am still trying out new “boxes” and I really like college. It will get better, sometimes all you have to do is sit in the suck.
If this was hard to read, my apologies. I am no expert in life, or writing. I am just a college student who went to Churchill and wish I heard these things. I am a big fan of one liners so if you take away anything from this, please let it be this:
Fitting in is a myth. Everyone, everywhere, longs for acceptance and approval. Make high school your opportunity to gain your own approval. How do you do this? Do what makes you happy. Sing in choir, play a sport you suck at, join a club, or even start a club. Getting involved is worth it, and please do not let your fears stop you from doing so.
If high school doesn’t feel enjoyable right now, if life is kicking your butt, if life is sucking, please just give it some time and sit in the suck. I want each of you to experience the joys of life. For many of you, that is still to come. If all you can do is wait, then wait and try your best to make the waiting period a little more enjoyable.
University if Oregon interns share their experience and helpful tips for being a college student
Bio:
Katia Pramono (they/them) is in their fourth year at the University of Oregon, studying Psychology and Family and Human Services. They are from South San Francisco, California. In their free time they enjoy learning how to skateboard and watching movies. They would like to continue their education in Developmental Psychology and advocate for more research to benefit LGBTQ+ and BIPOC families.
Self care in college by Katia Pramono
Honesty hour: I entered college with little to no idea of what self-care really was.
Sure, I had heard the phrase tossed around, and I knew that it was something I should support. When I thought of self-care, I pictured a candle-lit bubble bath though that was never something I practiced. Instead I rode the waves of stress from midterms, finals, projects, AP tests, and extracurriculars, then let myself rest afterwards. I figured as long as I was getting all my responsibilities taken care of, I didn’t need to actively engage in self-care.
What I’ve found in college is that it’s harder to balance all of my responsibilities. When I started my first job during my second year of school, my grades immediately dropped. My GPA for that term was one full point lower than any other term. I felt like I was burning the candle at both ends, but unlike in high school, I wasn’t exceeding. The exhaustion was too much to handle, and I quit my job after 2 quarters. I think that I could have greatly benefitted from some stronger self-care practices.
One important note is that self-care looks different for everyone. This is why it is called self-care. It does not matter if the activity would be relaxing for someone else; the purpose is to make you feel good.
Here is my personal list of top 10 self-care activities:
- Not over-committing myself
This one is potentially the most important piece of advice I can give. When I say yes to too many hours at work, too many extracurriculars, or too many classes, I find myself struggling to put a sufficient amount of effort into any of these individual commitments. I am the type of person who wants to have a stellar resume and plenty to brag about at job interviews, but trying to do everything leaves me falling behind instead. The greatest thing I can do for myself is making sure I have time to take care of myself in between my lectures and study sessions.
- Going outside
Breathing fresh air feels so good. There is something deeply calming about seeing nature and letting it make you feel small. There have been countless times where going to my local park and staring at the sky has allowed me to remember that school is only one part of my life, and these pending assignments are temporary. Going for a walk also gives me moderate exercise without tiring myself out too much. It gives my body, mind, and eyes a break. This is my go-to self-care move when the time and weather allows.
- Journaling
Sometimes when I’m feeling stressed, my brain feels as if it is moving at 100 miles per hour. I only catch glimpses of what I’m worrying about until the next thought comes through and I’m worrying about that instead. Writing down my thoughts allows me to empty my mind, or at least organize the thoughts so they stop racing so much. If I figure out exactly what I’m stressed about, I can plan out how to fix these problems. If I am dealing with a problem that cannot be solved, writing down my thoughts allows me to leave them in the journal and move on.
- Taking quiet time
For a long time, I avoided being alone at all costs. I always felt that I was wasting time if I was alone and not doing homework, so I used my friends as an excuse to have fun. Now, I have come to realize that alone time is so necessary. Being around people can be tiring. Taking time to be alone allows me to have full control of what I do with my time, and if that doesn’t look productive, maybe it’s because I need that time to rest.
- Playing guitar
I recognize that not everyone knows how to play guitar, but the instrument is not the focus of this strategy. I enjoy playing guitar because it challenges my mind to learn something new and practice skills. For some, sudoku puzzles or chess could provide the same type of exercise. The activity should be something that you find fun, but not necessarily easy. Forcing your brain to work without the pressure of grades is something that I believe we can all benefit from. As busy students, we are not always provided this opportunity, so we have to find it for ourselves.
- Doing something creative
Sometimes I have feelings that I cannot describe in words. Other times I just want to do something creative. Drawing and painting allow me to be playful and can help me communicate my feelings. On occasion I even get to enjoy a finished piece of art that I can put up in my room or show to my friends. Even if all I do is a simple, messy sketch, I try to enjoy the process. As someone with no training in art, I can have difficulty getting an idea from my head to the paper. Figuring out how to present an idea in art can be fun and rewarding.
- Treating myself
Everyone needs a little motivation, and to be completely transparent, sometimes my best motivation is a cup of coffee or sour gummy worms. When I buy myself a treat, I try to negotiate with myself. “If you get a cup of coffee, you have to sit down for 3 hours of homework” or “If you finish this essay, you can buy dinner instead of cooking tonight.” Treats can easily get out of hand, so I do not always recommend this strategy, but sometimes being a little extra kind to ourselves and giving into our little desires can help us to get more done.
- Cleaning my space
Having a messy room can really affect my mood. I want my room to be a place where I can fully relax, and clutter can be a major source of stress. I always know that I am feeling overwhelmed when I have clothes scattered throughout my room. Cleaning always takes some time, but the end result helps me to think more clearly.
- Reading
Recently I have rediscovered a love for reading, and here’s what did it for me: I stopped reading what I thought I should be reading (according to what other people like and what is popular) and just started reading what I was interested in. The funny thing is, I end up reading a lot of psychology and self-help books, which I suppose makes sense for someone studying psychology. Maybe I am missing out on reading “the classics,” but I am expanding my mind and being introduced to new ideas. School can require a lot of reading, but reading for enjoyment provides a different feeling. Books can provide information in an entertaining format; information that you may have been craving for a long time.
- Stretching
This is a quick, easy form of self-care that I can do wherever I am. Being a student, I sit most of the day. This can be really bad for our bodies, so I highly recommend that you take stretch breaks. I often find that I have tension in my shoulders and neck. Taking a moment to stretch can release these tight muscles while giving me a chance to rest my eyes and my brain, even just for a brief moment. Really take this time to be in your body and observe how you are feeling.
So that was my masterlist of self-care strategies. Hopefully I gave you some ideas for how you can best care for yourself during stressful times. If there is one thing you take from this blog post, it should be this: self-care looks different for everyone. The most important thing is that these activities serve you.
