Every Moment of Every Day

By Sarah Kornfeld, Summer 2011

There is a lot of discussion about self-care on campus, but how many of us are actually taking care of ourselves? Between full course loads, practica, dissertations, extracurricular activities, and maybe the possibility of making some money, where is the time for taking care of oneself? Most of us fall into bed at some unmentionable hour and sleep, dead to the world, until the alarm clock awakens us at an hour that our bodies are most likely not ready to come to terms with. This is the all too familiar lifestyle of a graduate student.

When it becomes a burden to make time to see your friends or not completely neglecting your family becomes something you have to pencil into your planner, you know you are busy.

Someone once told me, “Balance is loving every minute of every day.” And I count myself as pretty lucky because I find my life to feel balanced more often than not. However, I know for many of us this is a struggle. One topic that I have frequently heard discussed on campus is the availability of therapy for students. Many of us are resilient and have great support systems. But sometimes that is simply not enough.

In light of recent events, including the passing of former student Michael Franco, this question seems relevant: What are the services provided by Alliant to help support students and get them through not just the tough times, but the everyday times as well?

Alliant provides students with a phone crisis support line (MHN Student Assistance Program at 800-327-0556). Students are allowed three phone calls per topic for an unlimited number of topics.

However, the buzz at a recent campus event was that students are not utilizing this service for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that many students are unaware of the service.

The general consensus seemed to be that students felt they need a different venue for seeking counseling. Rather than needing “crisis support,” some students desire more ongoing counseling and drop-in services available on campus so that in a moment they could go by the office and make an appointment. It may also be easier for students to attend weekly appointments if the service was located on campus. The final consensus at a recent meeting was to form a committee of students and professors who will work together to tackle this issue.

Finally, as a member of SGA and as an advocate for finding balance in life through self-care, I am making a call to action. Together, let’s work on meeting student needs and creating a better environment for future students. If you have a suggestion, march down to the SGA office, write a note, and let your opinion be known.