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                   What are the Unique Challenges Student Parents Face while Attending College? Traditional college students complete their college education during their “emerging adulthood” years, usually between the ages of 18 and 24. During this time, college students are facing assignments, experiencing the residence hall lifestyle, and, ideally, carefree of “adult” responsibilities. Some financial responsibilities a student faces may include a new laptop for class, course textbooks and materials, transportation, and perhaps groceries when the dining halls are closed. Financial responsibilities can be very stressful, and many students worry how they will pay for school and their monthly expenses. These concerns apply to many college students, regardless of their “traditional” college status. However, among these traditional college students, there is a group of “nontraditional” students whose financial responsibilities stretch past...
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  Tips to Manage Time (Instead of Time Managing You) Jordyn Hayes If you were to follow yourself for a day, would you be bone-tired by the end of the day or still have energy for a few more tasks? Did you have an overall productive day, or do you still have the feeling that you need to get things done? Now, follow yourself around for a week and consider the same questions. Did you just step off a rollercoaster or floated peacefully into the weekend?  Effective time management skills are valuable to everyone for their daily lives. Jobs value an employee who demonstrates a strong work ethic and who is reliable. When scheduling an appointment, there is usually a warning of the consequence for arriving late. Time management surrounds us in our professional and personal lives. Those who are able to better manage their time and daily events find themselves feeling more productive, have more energy, feeling better about themselves, and other personal benefits (University of Georgia E...
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  Live a Healthier and Longer Life—Physical Activity Dydra Arnold  Physical activity is important in so many ways to the health of human beings. Physical activity can help with many things. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), physical activity can help you function better, feel better, and sleep better. It also can help with anxiety, improves overall health, and reduces the risks of various diseases. Let’s dive into more of the specifics! Why Does Physical Activity Matter? The CDC emphasizes many different reasons as to why getting an adequate amount of physical activity is extremely important. Some of these include: It saves lives and protects health Getting enough physical activity can prevent 1 in 10 premature deaths. It can also prevent: 1 in 8 cases of breast cancer 1 in 8 cases of colorectal cancer 1 in 12 cases of diabetes 1 in 15 cases of heart disease Not getting enough physical activity costs money $117 billion in annual health care...
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  Practicing Positivity—Self-Esteem by Dydra Arnold Many of us struggle with self-esteem issues. Sometimes, we may not even recognize how low our self-esteem really is. I wanted to highlight the effects that low self-esteem can have on your quality of life, the signs of low self-esteem, and different things you can try to improve your self-esteem.  How Can Low Self-Esteem Effect Quality of Life? Better Health Channel has listed how important low-self esteem can be in influencing quality of life. Certain ways that it can reduce quality of life include: Fear of trying : A person may doubt themselves so much that they are afraid to try anything new and may avoid anything that presents itself as a challenge Lack of Self-Care - A person may neglect to take care of themselves. They also may begin to abuse drugs and alcohol. Relationship Problems - A person may settle for unacceptable behaviors within romantic relationships because they feel they dese...

Strategies for Communication and Organization When Struggling in Classes During the Pandemic

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Strategies for Communication and Organization When Struggling in Classes During the Pandemic By: Jill Bowers & Sabrina Roley It is always best to turn  the assignment in early or by the due date. Yet, we have been living in a pandemic. I am a graduate student and know that a lot of students struggle with online classes though that is their only option right now. Some of us work at least part-time while navigating a full course load and have family responsibilities. Some students are trying to home-school a few children and or struggling to access the Internet from home because everyone in their home is online at the same time. The struggle is real. But, we will get through it, and there are many things that we can do to take responsibility for our course work and life. Small changes can also influence how professors respond to us. Professors continuously hear about students needing or asking for extensions with assignments, yet some individuals take the wrong approach with thei...

Human Service Professionals

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Human Service Professionals Author: Mikki Sherwood I teach a course for graduate students that is called “Current Issues and Trends in Family & Consumer Sciences.”  At the beginning of each semester I teach about the history of FCS. I have sections about the scientific roots of FCS, the  early leaders  of the discipline, and how FCS has evolved in more than 100 years.  I also cover the basic philosophy of FCS, explain the importance of the integrative nature of the discipline, and describe  Bronfenbrenner’s Systems Theory  in detail. My students all ask me why I think they need to have this information. I tell them to consider the fact that at some point they will be in the job market, in competition with many other people. They will need to be able to explain their unique attributes to a potential employer. One of the unique attributes of someone that studied FCS is that he or she has the ability to look at various aspects of the functioning of...

From Casual to Professional

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From Casual to Professional Author: Mikki Sherwood The skills you use to navigate relationships with your peers are very different than the skills used when communicating with teachers, employers, or other figures of authority. Having the ability to distinguish between professional and personal worlds, and learning how to interact with others in both environments, is critical to your success as you apply for jobs and interact with professionals in your field. Many people have problems switching from the super-casual vernacular used with their friends to a more professional tone when in an academic or work environment. The problems I have seen in my work as a professor have centered on the misuse of another person’s time and a too-casual demeanor. Yet, these social mistakes can be avoided with some thoughtful self-reflection and by practicing prosocial responses. Here are a few things to think about: Think before you speak about the timeliness and relevance of your questio...