Fungal Meningitis Outbreak

          With A total of 25 deaths in the United States, fungal meningitis has people in a whirl. According to the CDC and state health departments estimate that approximately 14,000 patients may have received injections with medication from the three implicated lots of methylprednisolone acetate and nearly 97% have now been contacted for further follow-up. On the bright side fungal meningitis is not contagious and is not spread from person to person. Indiana with 44, Tennessee with 74 and Michigan with 82 cases are leading with the most found.

                For those who don’t quite know what fungal meningitis is, it’s the result of the spread of a fungus through the blood stream to the spinal cord. Some of the symptoms are fever, headache, photophobia, or stiff neck. For updates on the outbreak people can visit the CDC's website. Also for a list of health care facilities follow the link.

College Nightlife

   Weekends in college normally consist of studying, catching up on some sleep, and what parents fear most; partying. As much as parents don't want to accept it, their child is more than likely going out on weekends and drinking. Students view it as just having a little fun and they feel like they want to get the most out of their college experience. In other words they don't want to miss out on the stereotypical idea of college being about partying, sororities, fraternities, and all its correlations. Although it is okay to attend some parties and to have fun; students need to know where to draw the line and fully understand the dangers and consequences.

    In Kasey Gray's article Partying Do's and Don'ts she gives helpful tips to have fun but remain safe. The first tip she's offers is to know when to say no. No one should ever feel forced to do something they don't want to do, therefore if students don't feel comfortable doing something then say no. Another tip Gray offers is to know what you are getting yourself into. When going out parties range from small get togethers to full-fledged raggers, so Gray is saying that it's good to ask questions and figure all of the details out to be prepared.

 A few statistics of college drinking

Excessive and underage drinking is a problem on nearly all college campuses and communities. On average, every year:

1,700 college students die from alcohol-related accidents.
696,000 students are assaulted by another student who's been drinking
97,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
110,000 are arrested for alcohol-related violations.

http://uodos.uoregon.edu/SupportandEducation/SubstanceAbusePreventionandStudentSuccess/CollegeDrinking/tabid/82/Default.aspx

Anxiety Control

    Midterms are right around the corner, and everyone knows what this means. It's crunch time! Students buckle down and spend every waking hour studying. But what else does this time bring, stress, anxiety, and complete and utter disorder of a student’s morality in a sense. Students begin to feel overwhelmed and exhausted, which can lead to more serious problems. Midterms are only one factor that plays into anxiety in college students. So what other components is there that has students in a whirl and how can they be controlled? After reading Stress in College: Common Causes of Stress in College by Elizabeth Scott people can understand the breakdown of the different issues that college students face and how it affects them.

    Some of the things that cause anxiety and or stress in college students that Scott states are regular old academic stress, social stress, and sometimes financial stress. Academic stress included the work overload, finals, midterms, and challenging classes. Social stress pertains to the issues of making friends, balancing your school work, social life, and sometimes a part- time job. Financial stress can range from tuition to having money for going out or fees or for organizations and clubs.Visit Anxiety/ Stress for the complete article by Elizabeth Scott.

   There are many different ways students can deal with anxiety. Many colleges have places dedicated to help students battle anxiety. Other simple task students can do include just taking a short break from everything and they can simply ask for help, there is always someone there to help. For more ways to deal with anxiety visit How To Deal.

Reducing Test Anxiety- Tips For College Students

 

Have No Fear Friends are Near

    When entering college almost all freshmen have this worry of making friends. They question how to meet other students, weather or not if people are going to like them, or if they're going to fit in. What incoming students need to realize is that there are several ways they can make friends. Their is no reason for someone to say they can't make any friends.Sometimes students just have to put themselves out there and they'll make friends in no time.  

       "There will basically never be an easier time in your life to make friends than your freshman year of college." Writer Cathryn Sloane of the Varsity Tutors education blog states. Sloane came up with six different ways to jump start your social life on college. Here are a few she mentions:
   
      
           1. Freshmen Orientation. This is literally a giant series of events setting the scene for freshmen to meet each other, so there is no way you can feel out of place. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with someone out of the blue, and more importantly, don’t stray away from those who strike up a conversation with you. Never write off anyone before you get to know them; college is a great time to get out of your comfort zone and connect with people you may not have ever associated with in high school. You are in no position to be picky right now, and sometimes you end up becoming close friends with the people you’d least expect. Plus, you may discover someone who lives in the same dorm as you or has some of the same classes. Now you’ll have a friend to help find that obscure science building or to accompany you to the dining hall

            2. The Dorms. The very reason most universities require freshmen to live in these residence halls is because of the naturally amazing social havens they are. The first and most obvious opportunity for socialization is your roommate, so be open and do everything you can to get to know and bond with them. However, don’t feel weird if you don’t find yourselves becoming best friends; this happens to many students, which is why it’s a good thing you have a plethora of other people in your building to meet. Your R.A. will inevitably plan a beginning-of-the-year floor meeting that is designed for you to meet your many neighbors down the hall, so do not miss it. Furthermore, don’t miss the many other floor activities/outingseither. Leave your door open occasionally; it shows you’re open to meeting new people and encouraging visitors to hang out. Vice-versa, make sure you take a walk down the hall to stop in and say hello to other students practicing the literal open-door policy. Moreover, do not forget about the many other floors of students in your building. Take advantage of full dorm meetings/activities and rec-room/common areas.

             3. Clubs.Join, join, join. This cannot be emphasized enough, especially with the extremely wide array of interests that university organizations cover. From intramural sports to Habitat for Humanity to fashion clubs to the student newspaper, there really is something for everyone. This is not only where you can make friends, but frequently get free t-shirts, food, and certainly a substantial bullet point on your resumé

    For the complete list go to http://www.studentadvisor.com/pages/making-friends-in-college-6-ways-to-jumpstart-your-social-life?button=making_friends_in_college_6_wa  

     Sloane also points out that in some cases those options don't always work out the way they are planned. This doesn't mean you give up. The best thing to do is stay positive, open minded, and most of all friendly.

The Dreaded Freshman 15

     The average college student's menu includes pizza, pasta, burgers, carbs galore. Students don't stop to think what all of these foods can do to one's body over a period of time. The period of time we're speaking of is the college years, a very crucial period at which you develop many of your eating habits that will carry on to your adult life. Some students don't realize how much they are over eating, or how much one little late night snack can pay a toll on your body. These little habits can add up over time and develop into more serious problems.
   
      So what are the real reasons for the weight gain in college? Is it the stress brought on from classes, the late night eating, or the alcohol consumption? It can be any or all of those reasons because everyone is different. The only solutions to this epidemic are to exercise regularly, manage your proportions, and to just eat healthy in general.
 
     Marianne Carter registered dietitian and director of the Delaware Center for Health Promotion at Delaware State University reports about the dangerous lifestyle choices we make in college. It begins with the new found freedom students feel when attending college, no more being told when and what they have to eat. This leads to the late night snacks, binge eating, in some cases alcohol consumption, or in other words weight gain. Studies have found that the average weight gain for freshmen is about 5 pounds. However, any pattern of weight gain is hazardous to future health, explained Carter. In many colleges they created different groups and organizations dedicated to the wellness of students.  Tips for prevention of weight gain Carter provides are as follows:

• Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to overeating and weight gain. Breakfast is crucial in that it helps jump start your metabolism and keeps you more alert in class.
• Keep your portions in check. Whether you eat in the dining hall or cook for yourself, avoid going back for seconds. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables – these will fill you up with fewer calories.
• Keep healthy snacks handy. If you have a dorm room refrigerator, stock it with healthy snacks such as fruit, string cheese, yogurt and baby carrots.
 For more tips you can go to http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120918/HEALTH/309110078/College-springboard-lessons-healthy-eating 

    

The Procrastination Complication

       Gordon Flett, a psychology professor in York University's Faculty of Heath and Canada Research Chair in Personality & Health, believes perfectionism is a key component as to why students procrastinate. The thought of failing increases their stress level which contributes to a delay in accomplishing task. Flett's tips to overcome a negative mentality are to aim for excellence over perfection, and to avoid that negative 'inner' voice. Another tip Flett offers is to simply ask for help when needed.

     What else may lead to procrastination? Time management is a key role in procrastination. Students don't take the time to plan out their schedule and map out when they have time to do home work, socialize, study, etc. Everyone is guilty of saying "I will do it later, " "I don't feel like doing it now, " so they put it on the back burner. Some students almost have to wait until they feel forced to do their work, meaning their assignment is due the next day for example. A simple solution to procrastination is do it now rather then later.
    
 
 http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2012/09/04/prof-offers-insight-into-the-puzzle-of-procrastination/

Anna Wintour

"It's always about timing. If it's too soon, no one understands. If it's too late, everyone's forgotten."   Anna Wintour

I fell in love with this quote because it's completely true in regards to anything such as news, fashion, or everyday life.