March 2007 Newsletter

March Newsletter Content:

• Feature Article: - Planning for the Future
• Spring Programming Ideas and the Photo of the Month - Ideas for Spring
• March Seasonal Calendar

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF SO THEY CAN SUBSCRIBE AS WELL!

Planning for the Future

Being set up for Success
by Christopher Brady

As the semester progresses the realities of graduation start to set in for the upper-classmen. Added pressure comes from the increasingly competitive, post-graduate job market.

With the number of graduates coming out of colleges around the country increasing rapidly it is becoming increasingly important to set yourself apart from the rest.

Getting that second internship will help with job placement. Employers like to see initiative no matter what field of study you have chosen. By having two internships it will show that you have a strong will to succeed in your field and that you are motivated. Help your residents by navigating them to the career center on campus. For those who have not yet done an internship, encourage them to look into it. Besides the fact that it will strengthen their resumes, it will show them if this is something they really want to do with their lives.

Set up study groups. Some students don't like the idea of having to go to a tutor. If they see that other residents, who they know, are going to a study group it will encourage them. It is easy to loose focus around this time of year this will help redirect that loss of concentration.

Additionally, some students don't understand how to make a strong resume. Help them by offering resume creation advice. After all, the resume is the first thing an employer sees. Regardless of how qualified a canidate is, if they present a weak resume, the employer will put it on the way-side and the canidate will not be considered. By helping others with their resumes, you will see weaknesses and strengths in your own. This is a very mutually-beneficial exercise.

Finally, have mock interview sessions with your residents. For most of us it is hard to handle the pressures associated with job interviews. See if your career center has an outreach co-ordinator/person who may be able to assist. By offering objective critisms and praise it will help build the confidence neccessary to excel in a professional interview, thus setting them up for success.

There are many other ideas and opinions out there on how best to prepair both yourself and your residents for the today's job market. Please any ideas you have on this topic.

Thanks,

PS... please visit the discussion boards to discuss this topic and add your thoughts!

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Spring Programming Ideas and the Featured Photo

As Spring Break approaches some students may suffer a loss of academic focus. With that drug and alcohol use rise, extra stress comes from job hunting and overall anxiety levels rise.

Programming ideas like nutritional and exercise programs, study breaks, non-alcoholic socials, vocational programs and others will help to reinforce community building and lower stress levels.

Additionally, helping residents proof their resumes, directing them to the career center, tutors and other tools that your college/university supplies to it's students will help.

Featured Photo:
Where: College Station Texas
Who: Resident Assistants at The Tradition
What: Brick Painting with Students

To submit a photo for next month's newsletter click here

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Student Issues Calendar

These are some issues students may face during this time of year. As you will note, these are general guidelines and will vary from student to student. This information can be useful to not only be aware of what students may be going through, but also to plan relevant programs.

Each of the following issues should spark programming ideas for you. For more detailed ideas, also be sure to check out the March and April programming calendars.

March:

• Mid-semester slouch (academically dangerous)
• Mid-winter sickness (especially with long, cold winters) accompanied by restlessness toward the upcoming spring break.
• Roommate conflicts may resurface due to cabin fever, academic pressure and just living together for an extended period.
• Seniors are anticipating graduation, but worry about jobs
• Existential crisis for seniors - "Do I have to leave school?", "Is my education worth anything?", "Was my major a mistake?", "What am I really qualified to do?"
• Finding money for spring break becomes a challenge
• Increasing thoughts/deliberations about suicide from academic and social expectations
• Trying to find money for spring break becomes a paramount issue
• Continued and increased anxiety over search for summer job
• Students begin worrying about living arrangements for the following year
• Apartment hunting and roommate selection becomes a concern
• Mid-terms bring about increased academic anxiety
• Anxiety following spring break sexual encounters
• Increased alcohol use with pressure of the end of the school year approaching
• Summer job hunting starts soon after spring break
• Different experiences at spring break can change community dynamics - who can afford to go where, how the trip went, etc..
  

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April:

• Increasing job worries
• Increased sicknesses
• High academic pressures (finals, papers, etc)
• Warmer weather may increase the fear and realistic threat of sexual assault (though it can strike at any time...not just in the spring)
• Burn out, lack of motivation, spring fever
• Health problems and physical appearance problems arise with warmer weather
• Social pressures increase (formals, parties)
• Spring brings out love....everyone wants to be in it.  This brings issues for those who are, AND those who aren’t.  (dating/relationship programming, or alternative activities)
• Class scheduling anxiety
• Easter/Passover break--pressures to go home, depression if  you can't go home
• Homesickness
• First-year readjustment to home
• Senior-itis
• Financial strain from spring break effects social life
  
• Registration for summer/fall classes

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If you have suggestions for this newsletter, or would be interested in providing content, please e-mail me at [email removed]