This article deals with subjects of sexual assault, domestic violence, and eating disorders. If you need support, please contact the Resolve or national suicide and crisis hotline, 988. 

If you are anything like me as a college student in the past two weeks- your diet is slowly collapsing, Schoology notifications are all you can think about, and you have taken your phone out in class just to respond to an email. This daily influx of heightened stress creates a lack of self-care and compassion, especially in such a competitive college environment. 

The truth is we all need to take care of ourselves. We should not have to crumble every time midterms occur. We do know they are coming, after all. Students deserve to be able to feel like stress isn’t this all-consuming force which will suck us into an endless black hole of dread. 

However, this starts from the ground up. We need to set boundaries with ourselves, which extends to everyone else, in order to be successful at changing the dynamic of this university. Whether this be not checking emails before 8am or after 5pm, putting down your phone while eating meals, or discussing with a professor about current struggles, all of these solutions are valid. 

Now, Point Park professors. Yes, I am talking to you right now. If you bring up sexual assault, eating disorders, discrimination, or domestic abuse: Do not be surprised if your student does not participate or decides to leave the room during that class. Even if you are being educational about city safety or assault awareness, there are students with a story. There is always a voice in the room which is not known, or heard. I urge you to release a disclaimer before any form of media related to potential triggering topics are shared. We, as students, would appreciate having a safe environment. 

We have made it this far. I encourage all students, staff, and faculty to take deep breaths today. Fall is upon us and soon we will have to find our communities through freezing temperatures and layers of snow. If you need to get away from your work, moving to Point Perk, the Library study rooms, or any place which is not your bed where you enjoy studying, could greatly improve your productivity. 

Now, in the corporate America which we are living in and through, productivity is usually determined by how much work you complete, in as little time as possible. I stand by the fact that that is not what productivity is in its entirety. Calling your loved ones, learning a skill, taking a language class- these practices are all productive. You are able to be a better human. 

If you are having struggles starting your work, I recommend writing one sentence. If that does not work, I recommend setting a five minute timer where you only write about your assignment. Routines like these may aid in overcoming short-term cases of writer’s block. 

As always, please remember to take care of yourself this fall semester, Pioneers.