Student Services Career Development Center Macalester College
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CareerStreet

  A Publication of the Career Development Center
  Macalester College

  Vol. V - Issue 2 - October 17, 2007
   Current Issue Printable PDF

  "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
-- Steve Prefontaine, American Olympic runner (1951-1975)


Hot Jobs

Find details on these
opportunities on our web
site under Grand Avenues.

Service Learning Coordinator
City of Lakes AmeriCorps
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Fulltime-Deadline: 10/24/07

This position serves part of the City of Lakes AmeriCorps 2007-2008 program. Service learning coordinators lead a variety of projects, programs, and events. They also facilitate exciting student led service learning projects in the Minneapolis Public Schools, partnering with teachers, established student groups, and other AmeriCorps members.

English Teacher in China
Chinese Culture Center
Various Locations, China
Full Time- Deadline: 10/24/07

The Chinese Cultural Center is seeking candidates to fill an English Teacher position for a one-year period in a school in China . They are interested in native English speakers who have a BS/BA degree or higher (summer internships are also available for in-school students). Benefits include free round trip airfare, free furnished apartment in the host school, paid vacations and competitive salary.

Project Coordinator Health and Wellness
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Part-time-Deadline: 11/01/07

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is looking for project coordinators that manage and develop Health and Wellness programs. The job involves working the Chronic Disease Self Management program with HealthEast and Medica, and the Falls Prevention Project with U-Care, MAAA, Courage Center, and the Cummins Corporation.  Responsibility includes managing and supporting these projects through planning, organization, development of volunteer base, and recruitment of participants, program marketing, and participant teaching.

2008 Internships positions
Minnesota Twins
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Internships-Deadline: 10/31/07

The Minnesota Twins offer an exciting opportunity for current college students and recent college graduates to gain experience working in the professional sports industry. They are looking for energetic, highly motivated individuals for their internship program to assist in making the 2008 championship season a successful one. Positions are available for college students in these areas: accounting, corporate partnerships, game presentation, information technology, ticket office and others. For recent college graduates or college seniors, available positions include: baseball communications, broadcast, marketing and advertising, photography, public affairs and others.

3654BR Government Relations Intern
Land O'Lakes
Arden Hills, Minnesota
Internship - Deadline: 10/27/07

The Government Relations intern will implement the Land O'Lakes' grassroots legislative activities and provide communication support for those efforts. This position provides opportunities to participate in PAC fundraisers, legislative meetings and lobbying on Capitol Hill. This individual will report to the Senior Writer and have significant involvement with the Director of Government Relations. Some specific projects include: Coordinating Land O'Lakes' participation in the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Washington, D.C. in June; scheduling Land O'Lakes' grassroots activities in Washington D.C. in July, and other political events and learning opportunities as assigned.


On-Campus Recruiting

To access a list of the most
current on-campus employer presentations, information tables, resume deadlines and interview dates go to:

http://www.macalester.edu
/cdc/recruitcurrent.pdf


Upcoming Events

DAY OF MEDICINE
Choosing Medicine: Making An Informed Choice 

Saturday, November 10, 2007
8:45 AM-3 PM,
Kagin Commons, Alexander G. Hill Ballroom  

Co-sponsored by the Career Development Centers of Macalester College and University of St. Thomas (UST), the Macalester College Health Professions Student Committee, and the UST Pre-health Professions Club

This day-long program, consisting of panels of physicians, medical students, medical residents and medical school admissions officers, will be of interest to all pre-medical students, first years through seniors and post-graduates, including those who are convinced of their career goals and those who are still uncertain. Even those who have attended previous “Day of Medicine” programs in this series will learn new information and be exposed to additional stories and points of views. The theme for this conference is “Making An Informed Choice.” There will be four panels and a break-out lunch question and answer session with the panelists. Click here for further information.

MAJORS FAIR (Change of date)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Olin-Rice Gallery
7-8:30 PM

Visit the Majors Fair to get answers to your questions regarding choosing a major. Representatives from academic departments will be present.

GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT JOB AND INTERNSHIP FAIR
Monday, October 22, 2007
University of Minnesota
10 AM-4 PM

The Government and Nonprofit Job and Internship Fair is an opportunity to meet and network with over 40  agencies. It will be held in the Great Hall at Coffman Memorial Union on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus (300 Washington Ave., SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 ).  For a list of participating agencies and directions to the event go to: http://www.mcucsa.org/govjobfair/

If you need more information or would like to register, contact the CDC at extension 6384 or cdc@macalester.edu.

For a complete list of upcoming CDC programs and events, be sure to check out:

http://www.macalester.edu/cdc/events
/index.html


Beyond the Piggy Bank

In this section, the CDC provides you with links to information on managing your personal finances. We hope you find this useful. This newsletter’s topic is:

"13 Financial Tips for College Kids"


Suggestion Box

HOW TO BEAT PROCRASTINATION...IN A MINUTE OR LESS

Everyone procrastinates about some things, and most of us have areas in our lives where we don't procrastinate at all. But for millions of us, procrastination is a serious obstacle to performance.

Studies of employees at corporations suggest that employees may engage in actual work for less than five hours a day. The rest of the time is spent preparing to work, but not actually doing it. One study found that about 90% of participants procrastinate on occasion, and about 25% chronically put things off.

It's getting worse. People today are flooded with information - news, e-mails, instant messaging, Internet databases, etc. The constant flow of information means that more matters compete for attention at any given time. It's easier than ever to put things off until a later date or, in some cases, not do them at all.

The following techniques can be put into practice in one minute or less:

  • set specific goals - many people don't make a distinction between their priorities and their goals
  • avoid information overload - trust your instincts, collecting enough information to make an informed decision, rather than trying to gather every bit of information available
  • don't wait to be in the mood - start projects even when you aren't feeling particularly energized or creative, since most people find that they get in the mood once the work is under way
  • preview information - this allows the subconscious mind to start preparing, generating ideas, and letting plans take root

(Source: Bottom Line Pocket Coach Secrets from the Top Self-Help Gurus, 2007, p. 42-45.)


Web Watch

GRADSCHOOLS.COM

www.gradschools.com

This website provides a full range of services for both students and administrators interested in learning more about graduate programs and resources. Students can benefit from this website by creating a student profile, which allows users to access information about a plethora of graduate programs. This feature also allows student profiles to be visible to recruiters, similar to a job search website. A newsletter sent monthly via e-mail provides students with helpful tips on financial aid, study habits, working, etc. for no fee.

The most helpful feature is the graduate program search engine, which allows the user to find a graduate school by a specific program or find a program by graduate school name. The program list is comprehensive, but the broad program categories do not necessarily encompass all smaller programs, especially those that are only at select schools. The graduate school list even allows the user to search for a school by specific features of those schools, such as minority program offices, distance education programs, and international programs.

To its detriment Gradschools.com has an unappealing appearance, and is reminiscent of a poorly designed pop-up ad. It is rife with advertisements and self-promotion. Luckily, all of the advertisements are for graduate schools, and if you can get past the appearance, Gradschools.com is a genuinely useful website. The site is easy to navigate and is very user friendly. This website is a good place to start if you are just beginning your graduate search, or need a better idea of the kinds of graduate programs offered.


Grad School Notes

WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT

Your personal statement can be the most important part of your graduate school application, especially if your GPA or test scores are below average. The personal statement is your chance to highlight aspects of yourself that are interesting and unique and explain why you are a good candidate for the program. Here are some tips when writing your personal statement:

  • Opening Paragraph
    Begin the essay with a strong introduction to make yourself stand out. Engage the reader by showing your passion for the field.
  • Highlight Your Educational Background
    Rather than rattling off a list of coursework you completed, explain specifically how your education led you to this program. Did one particular class experience or professor influence your decision to go into this graduate program? If your undergraduate background does not relate to the grad program you are applying for, emphasize other experiences that have led you to your decision to apply to the program.
  • Include Relevant Life Experiences (travel, jobs, internships, volunteer experience)
    Only include these if they have impacted your goals and if they demonstrate why you are a good candidate for the program. Write about specific and unique experiences that will set you apart from other applicants. Talk about job or internship experiences if they relate to the program and explain how they have reinforced your goals.
  • Research the program
    Demonstrate that you are a good match for the program by describing the benefits you'll bring to the program, and in turn, how the program will benefit you. Show that you have researched the program and allow your essay to demonstrate this. Although you may re-use some parts of your essay when applying to multiple schools, make sure you tailor your statement to each individual program. Some programs will ask that you answer specific questions in your essay; do not overlook these.
  • Proofread!!
    Have multiple people read over your essay before submitting your final application. Make an appointment at the Career Development Center or the MAX Center to get additional help.

Contributor: Maureen Mahoney, Graduate Intern


What is the CDC?

The Career Development Center is here to assist students in planning, articulating and applying their educational experience to meet their future goals. The office is located on the first floor in Kagin Commons, and offers individual counseling sessions with a career counselor, an extensive career resource library, job/internship listings and opportunities from around the globe. The CDC resource library features: Information about Fellowships,
Internships and Job Postings; information on Companies and Government Opportunities; pamphlets and materials on resume and cover letter writing; books on etiquette, interviewing, grad school and the job search process; and an
extensive alumni directory, sorted by career.
------------------------
HOURS
8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday
(Daily Drop-ins between 2 to 4 PM)
-----------------------
Macalester College
Career Development Center
Kagin Commons
1600 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 696-6384
Fax: 651-696-6131
cdc@macalester.edu
http://www.macalester.edu/cdc


 

 

 

Counselor's Corner

THE LAST WORD

"A few days ago, I interviewed with a really great firm. My experience and skills fit what they are looking for, but during the interview I was guilty of an interview DON'T - being too talkative. Is there any way to salvage this situation?"

Probably not, because you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. What you can do is analyze what leads you to think you were too talkative. Once you identify exactly what occurred, you can adjust your behavior in your future interviews. If you are called back for a second interview with this employer, you can alter the employer's perception.

Some things to consider:

  • Did you wander off point and fail to answer the question? This is a common fault, because many candidates are thinking so hard about what they want to say next, they fail to listen to the question, or remember a multi-art question. Limit your answer to the question asked, and make sure you answer it.
  • Did you give so many examples that you seemed over eager? Next time give one or two examples to illustrate the competency being asked about. Sometimes less is more, and you don't want to seem desperate to impress the interviewer.
  • Did your interviewer repeatedly cut off your answers? This doesn't mean your answers are absolutely too long; it may mean only that your answers are too long for this interviewer because you have different interpersonal styles. Your preference to give lots of detail, examples, and information may clash with an interviewer who wants concise summary statements and then to move on to the next question.
  • Did the interviewer remain silent after your answers, causing you to start talking again without knowing whether more information was required, and if so what? This could mean that the interviewer wants more information and examples, or that you answered only part of the question. Or, it could be a stress interview technique, designed to make you uncomfortably stressed, in order to assess how you behave under stress. The right response here is to ask, "Did I answer your question?" or "Do you want another example?" before volunteering more information. The interviewer will either clarify or move on to the next question.
  • Did you make small talk and get no response? Again, this may mean not that you talked too much, but that you didn't assess the interviewer's personal style and change your behavior appropriately. Abandon talk about weather, sports, mutually known colleagues, etc. and by limiting your conversation to answering questions and asking questions about the job when invited to do so.

By taking specific steps to avoid repeating this most common mistake of talking too much in future interviews, you will gain confidence and interview more successfully.

(Adapted from CollegeRecruiter.com, "Ask the Experts," Carol Anderson, Career Development and Placement Office, Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at New School University in New York City.)


Mac Movies, Books & More

BE A GUEST MOVIE CRITIC

The CDC is happy to announce an exciting opportunity for fledgling movie critics! Take a turn as a guest critic, get a start on your portfolio and possibly even win big prizes.

The grand prize is an all-expense paid trip to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, February 24, 2008 for the Academy Awards.

Okay, maybe not. Almost as exciting, Highlander gift certificates will be awarded to contributors and contest entrants.

Our contest rules are simple, vague, and subject to change at any given time. The contest is open to Macalester students and employees. Employees of the CDC, their respective affiliates and associates, and such employees' immediate family members and persons with whom such employees are domiciled are excluded from this contest. Other rules and regulations may apply.

Please email your entry to Mary Emanuelson at: emanuelson@macalester.edu . Write about a movie that has impacted your dreams and aspirations. Your reflection may be: based on information you learned as an industry “insider” (The Devil Wears Prada); a geographic locale that beckons you (The Beach); a specific job (Apollo 13).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Contributor: Mary Emanuelson, Assistant Director , CDC


Featured Fellowship

The USGA Fellowship in Leadership and Service is committed to providing opportunities for personal development through golf and its values. This two-year program with an opportunity to create a third-year project, connects college graduates at the outset of their careers with resources that enable them to grow personally and professionally.

Fellows work in all facets of the USGA Grants Initiative in a challenging environment with a high level of responsibility. The Fellowship also provides an educational component to aid recent college graduates in their professional and personal development. This component focuses on non-profit management, finance, public speaking, writing skills, negotiations, and personal leadership styles. The overall program allows Fellows to learn through experience while examining their professional aspirations and strategies.

Application deadline is January 8, 2008. For details visit the web site at: http://www.usga.org/aboutus/
foundation/fellowship/fellowship.html
.

For further information on fellowships, please visit the CDC website: http://www.macalester.edu/cdc/
graduateschool/financing
/fellowships.html


The Bookshelf

HOW TO GET ANY JOB WITH ANY MAJOR - Author Donald Asher. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA, 2004.

Here's the biggest secret in career counseling: You can get any job with any major. That's what Donald Asher argues in his 2001 book, based on his years of experience as a college counselor and public speaker. As Asher puts it in his introduction, “at the juncture of college graduation, no job is inherently sealed off to you simply and solely because of your major.” Asher makes it clear in this book that any career you want is entirely possible to attain.

A significant part of the book is dedicated to asking key questions to potential job seekers, and doling out the advice that college students need to hear. The first section of the book is dedicated to this type of advice, and is aptly titled “You need to reconsider everything you know about your career interests.” Asher forces the reader to do a major overhaul of their thought process concerning career choices. He does so by being blunt and honest about what lies ahead on one's career path, and why it's good to expect these things. For example, Asher says that on the path of your career, uncertainty is a good thing, you're bound to change your mind, and you will inevitably be fired at some time in your career.

The remainder of the book is dedicated to developing you, the reader, into an inventive and daring career explorer. Asher does this by helping the reader develop a “career journal” by asking probing questions and giving assignments. These assignments are intended to force the reader to reassess their career goals and interests, while at the same time, discovering new qualities in themselves that will help them reach their career goal.

With his honesty, Asher challenges the reader to be more creative and bold in their career search. He supports his persuasions by adding interesting, and sometimes humorous case studies about successful people who once followed similarly rocky paths. Asher also provides great examples of successful people who have surprising degrees (i.e. Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert cartoon strip, was an economics major; Carly Fiorina, chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Co., was a philosophy major.) This book is a road map for the journey of career exploration, and is extremely helpful to any student, especially students attending a liberal arts college like Macalester. This book comes highly recommended to Mac kids who feel lost. Even if you don't follow the career journal to the end, the book can be used for its helpful interviewing tips, aggressive tactics, and motivating anecdotes.

This book can be found in the Majors section in the CDC resource Library located on the first floor in Kagin Commons.


Featured Article

"THE TOP TWELVE E-MAIL MISTAKES THAT CAN SABOTAGE YOUR CAREER”
By Lydia Ramsey

In the e-mail dependent universe that most colleges (Macalester included) are in, this article is a must read for students, faculty, staff; essentially anyone who uses e-mail. Everyone knows to spell check and avoid obvious ambiguity, but manners expert Lydia Ramsey provides us with twelve important and often neglected e-mail manners to follow in correspondence in order not to embarrass yourself. Ramsey opens with an oh-so-familiar scenario: you return to your computer after a brief absence, and you want to check your e-mail. Your inbox is full, so you start from the top of the list and start managing and organizing and responding to your messages. Are there rules you must abide by in order to project a professional and polite image? Of course! “Your e-mail is as much a part of your professional image as the clothes you wear, the postal letters you write (assuming you still do), the greeting on your voice mail and the handshake you offer. If you want to impress on every front and build positive business relationships, pay attention to your e-mail and steer clear of these top twelve e-mail mistakes.”

A common mistake is omitting the subject line. It makes no sense to send a message that reads "no subject" and seems to be about nothing. Given that people can receive hundreds of e-mails every day, it is important to distinguish yours from bothersome and quickly deleted SPAM messages. Going hand in hand with this, another e-mail mistake is not making the subject line meaningful. Unless you really are just saying “Hey” to your friend, your subject line “should be pertinent to your message.” Ramsey also suggests not to just hit “reply” every time, as making your subject lines detailed, relevant, and updated “will allow the recipient to find a specific document in his/her message folder without having to search every one you sent.”

While e-mail can be an informal method of correspondence, it still needs to include a greeting. Without this “Dear Mr. Doe,” the message may lack a real sense of acknowledgement and seem cold. Additionally, how annoying is it to get an e-mail where you cannot really tell if the person is being mean, sarcastic, funny, or none of the above? As with other electronic methods of communicating, such as instant messenger or text messaging, e-mail does not account for tone, as there is no way for the person to observe your body language or facial expression. Make sure you choose your words thoughtfully and carefully, keeping in mind how your words might be interpreted to the recipient.

Don't write the “Great American Novel.” E-mails are meant to be brief and concise. “If you find yourself writing an overly long message, pick up the phone or call a meeting. Enough said.

Many of us are guilty of this one, and we should be aware: do not forward an e-mail without permission. “Too often confidential information has gone global because of someone's lack of judgment.  Unless you are asked or request permission, do not forward anything that was sent just to you.”

Ramsey explains several more e-mail faux pas, some of which are surprising. She reminds us that “e-mail makes everything easier and faster including making a powerful business impression and establishing positive professional relationships. The businessperson who uses the technology effectively and appropriately will see the results of that effort reflected in the bottom line.” To find out more everyday e-mail mistakes, check out this informative article.

Article found online at: http://www.mannersthatsell.com/
articles/twelveemailmistakes.html


 

 

Macalester at Work

Simone King
Macalester Class of 2004

Mac alum, Simone King, left Minnesota for London to pursue a Masters in International Studies and Diplomacy. She discusses her work at the Library of Congress, prepares to run a Marathon for charity this week, and offers sound advice for Macalester students.

CDC: Where are you originally from and how did you find your way to Macalester?

SK: I am originally from NYC. I have extended family in rural Minnesota so I always used to come in the summer and winter to visit. My uncle introduced me to Macalester and thought it would be a perfect fit for my interest in international studies.

CDC: How did you spend the first year out of college?

SK: After Mac, I went to the University of London to pursue a Masters in International Studies and Diplomacy where I had the opportunity to take courses in Diplomacy, International Law, and Applied Economics of the Middle East and even take a course in Arabic.

CDC: What influenced your decision to go to grad school?

SK: Macalester was a perfect complement to my studies in London as it provided me with a strong foundation of critical analysis and an interdisciplinary perspective. After telling Prof. Blaney my interests and what type of school I was looking for, he suggested the school and I found that I could not have made a better decision.

CDC: Describe the type of work you do in your current position at the Library of Congress.

SK: I work in the Office of Policy and International Affairs in the U.S. Copyright Office which is located in the Library of Congress. We deal with the international aspect of copyright law. Our office works on legislation pertaining to copyright as well as participating in international and bilateral negotiations. We also provide technical assistance to countries in drafting their copyright laws. Working in PIA has been a great learning experience for me as I had the opportunity to experience the impact that technical developments and international agreements are having on domestic law and how government is reacting to this dynamic process. I assist in providing legal research and program planning for the division.

CDC: What would you say are the most important qualities or skills to be successful in a position like yours?

SK: The most important skills and qualities to be successful in such a position are strong analytical, research, writing and interpersonal skills.

CDC: What would you say is the most challenging aspect of your job?

SK: You have to be up for a challenge and ready to handle any task. While I had knowledge of international law, copyright was a world that was new to me. I had to be able to get a grasp of copyright to be able to complete indepth research to find answers to questions posed to me by the Attorney-Advisors and in the process I gained new research skills. Further, you have to be able to have strong communication skills as you are dealing with a wide variety of people from government officials, industry groups, citizens and other government agencies at the international level.

CDC: How do you think a liberal arts education, or perhaps your majors in particular, have helped you in the work force?

SK: I think my liberal arts education taught me how to be flexible. I had a diverse knowledge base as I tried to take a wide range of courses at Mac. This allowed me to feel comfortable handling new concepts. My economics major allowed me to provide our division with a different perspective to assist the Attorney-Advisors. The international focus at Macalester and its diverse student body was so relevant for a government position, as you have to possess a strong ability to relate to different types of people.

CDC: What are some of your interests outside of work?

SK: I have been training for the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which is this Sunday. Wish me luck! I am also a member of the American Society of International Law and Women in International Trade here in Washington DC.

CDC: If you were to offer any advice to current students, what would it be?

SK: If I could offer any advice it would be to Research, Research, Research! Utilize alumni, friends and family not just for networking for jobs, but to find out what is out there. There are a ton of jobs out there that you might not have ever realized existed, but might be a perfect fit for you. Finally, you have to be willing to accept disappointment and be willing to persevere. The traditional job search methods of answering job postings does not work anymore. You have to be willing to get your feet wet by researching what types of jobs are out there and then set up information sessions at the places you want to work. Most available jobs are not advertised.


Senior S.L.A.M.
(Seeking Life After Macalester)

TIME FOR A COMMUNICATIONS MAKEOVER?

Have you listened to your voice mail message lately? Is it a snippet of Maroon 5 music, followed by an irreverent vocal statement? Have you thought about your non-Macalester email address (Yahoo, etc.) - is it still the one that seemed so funny that night you set it up in 9th grade?

Before you start calling and emailing employers and grad schools, you might think about a "communications makeover." Make sure your voice mail is clear, succinct and definitely not profane. The email address that you use for this purpose should also be straightforward and include, if possible, your name. You want to convey a professional image to potential employers, grad schools and network connections.


Junior Jumpstart

WORK THOSE NETWORKS

Use this year to bump up your networks! There are the obvious opportunities - speakers in class, internship connections, community service colleagues, and employment. But don't forget connections that can happen through research projects, alumni who are on campus (or a list of alumni in a particular field that you can get from the CDC), parents and connections of friends and relatives, committees that you serve on, etc.

Remember "six degrees of separation" or the game "Kevin Bacon?" The world really is pretty accessible! Keep track of people you meet - when, what you talked about, things you might connect with them about later. You might even want to create your own "business card" to give to others with whom you want to keep the communication going. These connections are people who can help you gather the information you need to plan and connect so that you can meet your goals. And more often than you might think, you will be in the position to return the favor! So keep your eyes wide open and start working on those networks.


Sophomore Syllabus

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES WITHOUT GETTING LOST IN THE DETAILS:
Majors, Internships, Study Abroad

It is that time of year when it seems like there are too many decisions to make. Not only do you need to declare a major next semester, but also decide if you want to study abroad and why not add on top of that the possibility of a summer internship. It is important not to let these decisions overwhelm you. There are many resources on/off campus that are easily accessible, don't require a lot of additional work on your part, and can help to make a good decision.

The same strategy can be used for the three decisions we have talked about: declaring a major, summer internship, and study abroad. The key element is to find available resources on/off campus that can provide the information you need. That may include:

  • Professors
  • Fellow students
  • Academic Dean, Internship/CDC /Study Abroad office
  • Alumni
  • Family and Friends

Each of these groups can be helpful in not only providing information, but also additional contacts to further help your decision process. Remember, you don't have to make all the decisions today. Map out a plan on when you hope to be in a position to make a decision, and make sure you make the contacts necessary to make an informed decision.

There will be several events coming up soon that can help in each of these key decision areas. The first will be the Majors Fair, which will be held on November 1, 7-8:30 PM in the Olin-Rice Gallery. More information to follow, but representatives from academic departments will be available to answer any questions you have about that major/department.

Remember the CDC can help with these decisions as well. Feel free to set up an appointment today. Just call x6384 to set up a time, or stop by during drop-in hours from 2-4 pm Monday thru Friday.

Contributor: John Mountain, Associate Director, CDC


First Year Focus

GOT THE BLUES?

As you embark on your first year of higher learning, emotions of anxiety, excitement, and fear may integrate themselves on a daily basis.  Fortunately, first year activities and campus-wide events help to diminish the unpredictable emotions that may arise. But more often than not you may experience loneliness and homesick symptoms occur with first year status.  Some symptoms are self-isolation, turbulent emotions, divergent eating behavior, and low immunity to common colds.

What are some methods of triumphing over first year blues? Ehow.com suggests becoming active in student organizations, joining a sports team, and eating regularly. College Consultant, Susan Fee advises that students request a "piece of home" from their families like a pillow or selection of music. We also recommend volunteering, avoiding isolation, accepting safe social  invitations, and reaching out to Winton Health Services for short-term counseling.  Your first year is a significant transition.  Honor your feelings and explore safe options to pass through these normal, but difficult feelings.

Contributor: Christina Cowens Gholson, Career Counselor, CDC


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