Dear First-years, It’s almost midterms, and with those come increased academic stress. We’ve all heard tips on how to decrease this kind of stress: do yoga, deep breathing, eat right, etc. But I want to talk about what happens when your stress is greater, and these simple fixes don’t help. Occasional anxiety is normal, but if you have felt uncontrollable stress for at least six … Continue reading Advice for the floundering first-year (3/22/19)
They are around us. They are among us. They are us. Gustavus takes pride in its diversity and the international community, but how many of us are aware of the term transnationality? Transnationality is an identity that develops from the social and cultural structures of more than one nation. People who live a transnational life are comfortable with cultures of more than one country. The … Continue reading Transnational identity rises at Gustavus Transnationality: A Rising Identity At Gustavus
Perhaps one of the “hottest topics” at Gustavus is the parking situation. Throughout the room draw process, one of the biggest criteria for many with a vehicle on campus is whether or not there is parking close to the dorm. And if there is parking, if there are more than six spots available. And, lo and behold, even if there is a large parking lot … Continue reading Gustavus students deserve better parking
Just as warmer weather is finally rolling around, so is spring break. It is a well-deserved break due to the never-ending snowstorms we have experienced so far, and a lot of us make the most of what we do over break. There are so many stereotypes around spring break being a full-on beach party, road tripping to Florida, getting way too much sun, and making … Continue reading Gusties have different spring break ideals
Dear first years- I’m going to be honest with you: friendships were a lot easier during our elementary school playground days than they are in college. Back then, friends were the people you played with at recess, the people in your class, or really anyone you came across that you talked to briefly. Now, however, it can feel impossible to even maintain the friendships you … Continue reading Advice for the floundering first-year (3/15/19)
One of the best things about attending a liberal arts college is the chance to discover new parts of the world. My favorite part about being a Gustie is the way my time here has exposed me to new ideas and opinions. I grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin and as much as I loved my childhood, it did not expose me … Continue reading Compassionate communication: the key to a diverse campus
Coffee and college students, name a better dynamic duo. We have so many places to choose from, yet we all have our favorites for our own personal reasons. While coffee doesn’t change much, it is the atmosphere and employees that create our preferences. Between the Courtyard Café, River Rock, Diamond Dust, Dunkin’ Donuts, Caribou, and Starbucks, there is no shortage of places to go. After … Continue reading Caffeinate yourself in St. Peter
As the semester is getting busier and midterms are on the horizon, we all know the stress and sense of anxiety surrounding getting everything done and getting the grades that we want. While school is obviously very important, focusing too much on doing well in school can drain you to the point of being able to do nothing at all. This is why having hobbies … Continue reading Mindfulness and the importance of self-care
There are a lot of decisions to make coming up for many incoming students, students here on campus, and on other campuses as well. The high pressures of the decision making process can cause a lot of people to rely on their parents for guidance and help with their future. Although asking others for help with making these choices isn’t a bad thing, it can … Continue reading The time for adulting at college
Dear first years- By now, the course load of this semester has likely hit you full-force, and if you’re anything like me, the amount of homework you have feels completely overwhelming. I’m here to hopefully ease that stress by offering you a few study tips that I swear by. First, create an incentive for yourself. For me, this means if I study for a set … Continue reading Advice for the floundering first-year (3/8/19)
