Posts published on June 28, 2017

7 Ways Going to College Affects Your Health

BY MARTHA KARN

 

College is one of the best times in anyone’s life, but it can also be draining, both mentally and physically. Not only do frequent late-night study sessions combined with early-morning classes keep you from getting the sleep you need and lead to health problems, there are other health-related issues to worry about when you are a student. Today we are going to discuss seven ways that attending college can affect your health.

  • Stress – Stress is the biggest thing that can affect your academic performance, and it can also have a huge effect on not only your mental health, but your physical health as well. It is important to keep an eye on your stress levels. If you feel yourself becoming overly stressed-out, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone for help, be it a friend, a counselor, a professor, etc.
  • Lack of Sleep – You have a lot on your plate when you are in college. You are trying to juggle a hectic class schedule, make time for studying, socialize, and you might even have a part-time job. All this can lead to a lack of sleep, which is going to affect your health negatively. This is where time-management skills come in. You need to learn how to create a healthy balance so you get everything done and still get plenty of sleep.
  • Exercise – Unless they are heavily involved in sports, a lot of students don’t get nearly enough exercise. “This can lead to a number of health issues, including obesity, which can lead to even more health issues. It is important to try and get at least a half an hour of exercise each day. Try walking or cycling to school if you live off-campus. Use the stairs instead of elevators. The more exercise you can get, the better,” suggests Dr.Roth.
  • Depression – Many college students deal with depression and anxiety, particularly freshmen who are overwhelmed by college life. Often, depression is not reported or treated, and this is leading to higher drop-out rates. If you feel depressed or anxious, talk to someone. Never be afraid to ask for help. It may be that you need medication to help you get through whatever it is that you are going through.
  • Social Anxiety – If you are starting your freshman year, you may feel quite anxious about what to expect. You will be in a completely different environment from what you are used to, and you may have no idea how to act. Don’t become a statistic and end up drinking and partying too much. Find other ways to overcome feelings of social anxiety and learn how to deal with issues constructively.
  • Infectious Diseases – There are thousands of people on any given college campus, and this means that there are going to be a lot of germs floating around. It may be impossible to avoid catching a cold or flu at least once during the school year, but you can protect yourself from diseases by learning about disease prevention, and making good use of hand sanitizer. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching things that thousands of other people touch, if at all possible.
  • Drinking – You are on your own for the first time, and you have a chance to get out and have fun without parental supervision. College life often involves drinking, but some students take it to extremes and drink far too heavily. If you are going to drink, drink responsibly. Avoid binge-drinking, and never drink and drive. Here is a statistic to keep in mind: close to 600,000 college students are injured annually as a result of drinking/drugs.

Bio:

Martha Karn develops online educational courses and writes for students.

Summer Job Interview Tips for Students

BY JANE HURST

Whether you are in high school or college, you are going to have the next couple of months off and nothing to do. Instead of sitting around soaking up the sun all summer long (which sounds awesome but isn’t overly productive), you might want to consider taking on a summer job. This can help you gain valuable job experience, and give you extra cash for spending or saving for college.

 

It may be that you have had a part-time job but lost it, and you still want to work for the summer. You can get involved with a company that offers outplacement services. Basically, this is a service that is hired by companies who lay off employees, in order to help those employees transition into new career opportunities and finding new jobs.

 

Whether you are looking for your first job, or you have been laid off and are looking for new options, here are some awesome summer job interview tips that could help you land that job.

  • Dress for Success – It is always a good idea to dress for the job you are applying for. Of course, if you are applying for a manual labor position, don’t show up wearing ripped jeans and a tee-shirt. Dress nicely for your interview, without being too casual or too over-dressed. Ladies should avoid wearing too much make-up and jewelry, piercings, crazy hair styles, etc. If you don’t know how to dress, call the human resources department to find out their expectations.
  • Be Prepared – Be ready for the job interview. One great way to be ready is to practice. There are all kinds of websites that offer interview tips and common job interview questions. Knowing what employers are going to ask is half the battle, and having the answers they want ready when they ask shows that you are prepared and that you really want the job.
  • Study Your Resume – Many employers will want to talk to you without a resume in their hands, or in yours. Study your skills, and be prepared to discuss anything that the potential employer asks about, including your skills, experience, education, etc. These are things on your resume, but they want to see how you handle answering their questions.
  • Show Your Eagerness – If you want a job, you need to show the potential employer just how eager you are to work for them. Be pleasant and smile often. Use upbeat vocal tones, and stay positive throughout the entire interview. Tell them how badly you want the job, and how hard you are willing to work to prove it.
  • Show a Willingness to Learn – Often, a lack of experience doesn’t necessarily mean that you aren’t going to get the job. Your enthusiasm, and willingness to learn, may be just what an employer is looking for. Many employers actually prefer someone with little to no experience, because they can train them their way.
  • Show that You are Flexible – Most summer jobs are part-time, or they involve working various shifts. You need to show that you can be flexible with your hours. If you aren’t available for a certain shift, remember, someone else is. Also, employers love it if you are able to continue working once you go back to school in the fall, so if you can be flexible here as well, it could get you that job.
  • Follow Up – After the interview, follow up with a thank-you note. This shows that you appreciate the time the interviewer took to speak with you, and that you truly are interested in working for that company. After the thank-you note, contact the employer periodically to let them know that you are still interested.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.