Health and Human Services Professional Development

  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 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...

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...

WHAT YEAR SHOULD I ATTEND MY FIRST JOB FAIR? It is never too early to attend your first job fair. Although you may not be on the job market as a freshman or sophomore in college, attending a job fair could give you an idea of the types of organizations that exist in your field, or the types of jobs that you can get. Make sure you go to job fairs prepared regardless of what stage of career planning you are in. You never know who you will meet or what kind of opportunities the career fair can bring. Therefore, dress appropriately (see  Making the Most of a Job Fair ), and if you ARE on the job market, bring a few copies of your resume (make sure your resume proofed by a mentor or career services counselor).  Written by: Jill Bowers Additional resources for attending job fairs: How to Prepare for a Job/Career Fair [Virgina Tech website] Top Ten Tips for Students Attending Career or Job Fairs [Quintessential Careers] Job Fair 101; What to Wear Bring, and Ask [Men’s Life Today] ...

Check out this PBS.org video,  “It’s OK to be Smart: Pay Attention!”  It describes the fact that we are wired all of the time! Technology allows us to be alone, but still together. It connects us to one another and to a vast onslaught of information. We have to take all of this information and filter out what we don’t need. Luckily our brain is complex, and has the capability to allow us to focus on the information that is important to us, and ignore the rest. I recommend you take five minutes and focus on this interesting video!It’s OK to be Smart: Pay Attention!”

Stress and Food Choices Author: Melanie Burns Stress can influence eating patterns for college students, and eating patterns can influence college students’ satisfaction with how they handle problems (see  Cornejo & Cookston ).  Eating healthy does not need to end when you leave for college nor should it wait until you are through college.  While life stressors can make healthy eating less of a priority, making healthy food choices needs to happen every day. Little changes, such as eating breakfast and drinking low-fat milk, can make a difference in how you handle your weekly or daily stress.  The calories from the late-night pizzas and the all-you-care to eat dining hall buffets can add up quickly! For more information on making healthy food choices during the college years, visit the  USDA’s My Place On Campus . *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).