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May 2022 Blog Post

Home/Uncategorized/May 2022 Blog Post
2022-05-04T13:14:33+00:00 Print Page

May 2022 Blog Post

Stress Awareness Month

By Jesse Aspree, Director of International Student Programs

“In times of stress, the best thinking we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” -Fred Rogers

Self-care is essential to our well-being. Dealing with stress, which is a feeling of emotional or physical tension, is part of the human experience. It is a normal part of life and we all experience stress, but it could manifest itself in very different ways. Stress is defined as “your body’s reaction to pressure from a certain situation or event. It can be a physical, mental, or emotional reaction”. There’s a couple of different types of stress. The shorter-term type triggers a “fight or flight” response. This type of stress can actually be good for you, helping to avoid danger, or giving better mental or physical performance. The other type, chronic stress, is not as good for you, known to cause depression and even heart disease.

Common stress triggers could be school, your job, or a relationship, to name a few. A global pandemic doesn’t help either. Perhaps the best way to combat stress is awareness, and to have some tools that will allow you to minimize stress. Below are some tools from the Mayo Clinic that you might consider to help with controlling stress.

Get active

Try participating in any form of physical activity as it is a natural stress reliever. Endorphins and other chemicals in your body enhances your sense of well-being. By refocusing your mind and intentions on movements of your body you can improve mood. Examples include running, walking, skiing, gardening, mountain biking, volleyball or other physical activities that get you going.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating healthy is vital to taking care of yourself and can also help to alleviate stress. Try eating a balanced diet (think food pyramid) of fruits and veggies, grains, and dairy.

Avoid unhealthy habits

Some people may deal with stress by drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, smoking, eating too much, or using illegal substances. These habits can harm your health.

Meditate

During meditation, you focus your attention and quiet the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. Meditation can instill a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Guided meditation, guided imagery, visualization and other forms of meditation can be practiced anywhere at any time, whether you’re out for a walk, riding the bus to work or waiting at the doctor’s office. You can also try deep breathing anywhere.

Laugh more

A good sense of humor can’t cure all ailments, but it can help you feel better, even if you have to force a fake laugh through your grumpiness. When you laugh, it not only lightens your mental load but also causes positive physical changes in your body. So read some jokes, tell some jokes, watch a comedy or hang out with your funny friends. Or give laughter yoga a try.

Connect with others

When you’re stressed and irritable, your instinct may be to isolate yourself. Instead, reach out to family and friends and make social connections.

Social contact is a good stress reliever because it can offer distraction, provide support and help you tolerate life’s up and downs. So take a coffee break with a friend, email a relative or visit your place of worship.

Try yoga

With its series of postures and controlled-breathing exercises, yoga is a popular stress reliever. Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines which may help you achieve peacefulness of body and mind. Yoga can help you relax and manage stress and anxiety.

Get enough sleep

Stress can cause you to have trouble falling asleep. When you have too much to do — and too much to think about — your sleep can suffer. But sleep is the time when your brain and body recharge. If you have sleep troubles, make sure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, listen to soothing music, put clocks away, and stick to a consistent schedule.

Get musical and be creative

Listening to or playing music is a good stress reliever because it can provide a mental distraction, reduce muscle tension and decrease stress hormones. If music isn’t one of your interests, turn your attention to another hobby you enjoy, such as gardening, sewing, sketching — anything that requires you to focus on what you’re doing rather than what you think you should be doing.

Seek counseling

If new stressors are challenging your ability to cope or if self-care measures just aren’t relieving your stress, you may need to look for reinforcements in the form of therapy or counseling. Therapy also may be a good idea if you feel overwhelmed or trapped, if you worry excessively, or if you have trouble carrying out daily routines or meeting responsibilities at work, home or school.

Professional counselors such as the ones at Highline College, or therapists can help you identify sources of your stress and learn new coping tools.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org

Important Dates for Student Success

  • Now: Submit your 2022-2023 FASFA or WASFA to start the process for Financial Aid funding for the upcoming academic year! If you haven’t done this yet, we recommend you do this right away. More information here. 
  • May 6th College closed – Equity Development Institute for Faculty and Staff
  • May 16, 17, 18, and 19: Let’s Get Enrolled!  Drop by Building 6 on your assigned enrollment date to get help enrolling in Summer/Fall classes!
  • May 27th is the last day to withdraw from Spring classes (W on transcript)
  • May 30th College closed for Memorial Day Holiday
  • May 16th: Registration for Summer and Fall 2022. More information about registration timelines here

Student Services, Resource, and Activity Highlight

  • Applying for Financial Aid Workshop
    • This presentation will go over the 7 Steps to Apply for Financial Aid at Highline.
    • May 3rd
  •  Financial Aid Portal Training
    • This presentation will go over how to use the ctcLink Portal to check student’s Task Tile for the To Do List, Message Center for communication from the Financial Aid Office, and Financial Aid Tile to check on award status.
    • May 13
  • Financial Aid 101 Workshop
    • This presentation is a high level overview of how financial aid works, the types of aid available at Highline, and common student mistakes in the process and how to avoid them. The Financial Aid Office recommends that all students attend one of these sessions to become familiar with the Financial Aid process and policies.
    • May 17
  • FAFSA or WASFA Workshop
    • These workshops are hands on events where students can get assistance in a group setting with completing the 2022-23 FAFSA or WASFA. Students need to ensure that they’ve created and know their username and password for their FSA ID prior to attending the workshop if completing the FAFSA. This link is to a short video on how to create a FSA ID https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1Pn-shze8. Students will need to bring 2020 federal tax information, current banking statements, and any investment statements.  Most unmarried students, under the age of 24 will need to bring the same information for their parent as well. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend these workshops as well.
    • FAFSA Workshop
      • May 20
      • 1-2pm, Building 29, Room 308
    • WASFA Workshop
  • NEW TRiO Eligibility!!! Apply for TRiO & Receive Support and Guidance!
    • In addition to students who plan to earn an associates and transfer to a bachelor degree program, TRiO is now welcoming students who plan to pursue a certificate or BAS degree to apply for TRiO! This is new for our program and is only temporary while we have limited spots to accept students into the TRiO program. More information about our TRiO eligibility criteria here. 
    • Services Offered: Academic Advising, Professional Mentorship & Coaching, Transfer Advising and University Campus Visits, 1:1 Tutoring, Book & Technology Loan, Scholarship search and application support and much more! All services and resources are free of cost. TRiO students succeed at a higher rate, both with graduation and transferring to a 4-year program. Join our program, our community!
    • TRiO is located in Building 6, 1st floor in the Student Success Center
    • Learn more about TRiO Here
    • Spots are limited: Apply Here!
  • A Road Map to College Success infographic was designed by two students in Highline’s Integrated Design BAS: Hye Yoon Choi and Aliyah Laurea, to visually represent the Student Advising Path.  This road map will be shared across campus, visible on prominent Highline College web pages, and utilized in outreach events.  The Guided Pathways Intake and Advising team, as well as countless stakeholders across campus provided content and feedback throughout the design process.  Thank you! We hope this clarifies the student journey for all! 
  • Everyday Financial Tools: Keys to Borrowing
    • This class will cover what to know and look for when borrowing money. We will also review lender requirements for borrowing and how to build the case for loan approval. This workshop is co-hosted by the Benefits Hub and American Financial Solutions.
    • Tuesday, May 3rd 6pm, online; https://calendly.com/bh-workshops
    • Contact person and information: benefitshub@highline.edu
  • Community Pantry Spring Hours
    • Stop by the Highline Community Pantry for some groceries or ready-to-eat snacks every Thursday from 1pm-4pm. Can’t make it then? Space is still available for weekly grocery delivery! Choose from four different cuisine types. Sign up here and receive the food box of your choice each Monday.
    • Location: Bldg. 16
    • Contact person and information: communitypantry@highline.edu
  • 50 Year of Financial Aid Pell Grant: Complete the Survey to potentially receive $50 Gift Card
    • The Pell Grant turns 50 this year. To celebrate this milestone and continue momentum for this critical source of financial aid, we are collecting stories about how Washingtonians have benefited from the grant. IF YOU RECEIVED A PELL GRANT IN THE PAST OR RECEIVE ONE CURRENTLY: Please complete this survey by May 20, 2022. Five respondents will be selected randomly to receive a $50 gift card. Learn more at www.collegepromisewa.org.
    • Survey Link Here
  • New Student Peer Connectors in Entry Advising!
    • We would like to welcome the following Student Peer Connectors to Entry Advising!
      • Zahra Osman, Theo Laureat and Asuka Oyama
      • New Peer Connectors are available to give campus tours and support fellow students during their first steps at Highline.
  • Explore Highline! Orientations begin virtually on May 10th from 10am – 12pm. There will be a variety of sessions available for students: in-person, combined in-person & zoom, evening sessions and a monthly Saturday session.
    • Changes to orientations for all students:
      All new students entering Highline are encouraged to attend Explore Highline! This is in anticipation of it being required for all students starting in Fall 2022. *Don’t worry, there will be exceptions. 😊 Students will explore the degree pathways and the programs of study Highline has to offer, learn how to enroll in classes, explore the campus, pick classes with an Academic Pathway advisor, and many other things! Check out the webpage to learn more, and feel free to stop by a session anytime.
  • Refreshment and School Supplies Table!
    • A refreshment and school supplies table is up and running on the top floor of building 6.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed supplies or food, keep them coming!  Please come by for coffee, drinks, snacks and school supplies.
    • Location: Building 6, 2nd Floor [image of the Refreshment and School Supplies Table below]
  • Join the Financial Aid Team
    • Open positions include 3 student worker positions, and 2 part time hourly. There is a national shortage of skilled Financial Aid professions, so these positions can easily translate into lifelong careers with above average salaries.
    • Job Entails
      • Customer service delivery
      • Data entry
      • Working with complex regulations in a dynamic office environment
      • Amazing growth opportunities and on the job training
      • Starting hourly wage is $15.01 per hour, no benefits.
    • Students applying for the student worker positions can send a cover letter and resume to csoltis@highline.edu; individuals interested in the part time hourly positions can apply at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/highline for the Financial Aid Assistant.