College can be a stressful time for everyone. A heavy schedule of classes, assignments, club meetings, events, sports practices, and games can be a lot for one’s mind, especially for anyone who already struggles with their mental health. Some put their physical health before their mental health. This is why SAIL, the Student Health & Wellness Center, the Professional Career-Readiness Center (PCRC), and Spiritual Life at Point Park University decided to host a mid-week check-in event for all students.
Many students attended the Mindfulness Morning event in Village Park and the Student Center lot on Wednesday morning to check in with their physical, mental, and spiritual health. The event was part of the Woodstock-themed event series that SAIL had hosted during the first week of classes.
Mindfulness is a way for a person to be fully present in their own lives. To live a life mindfully, one has to be aware of their surroundings and to live in the moment. By utilizing time management and meditation practices, a student will learn to be more mindful of their time and how they use it.
The Student Health and Wellness Center offered students a creative break for their mid-week check-in. The center hosted a tie-dye party in the Student Center Lot, where students got to make their tie-dye shirts. The center also offered students a helpful packet of information that detailed what mindfulness means, the many benefits, and how to adopt a healthy mindset. A few meditation and grounding techniques were given in the packet as well.
There is also a brief explanation by an online craft-maker that explains how the colorful activity can relate to mindfulness. The craft relieves stress and anxiety and allows participants to be mindful of the colors they are using. Tie-dye also allows attendees to act like a kid again, something that is needed for the younger students and even some educators who need a creative break.
The Professional Career-Readiness Center (PCRC) was there to offer students time management techniques to ensure that each student is mindful of how they use their time wisely. As each participant checked in to the event via Handshake, they were later emailed a welcome message from the PCRC that acquainted students with the on-campus career readiness center. A document attached to the email contained helpful techniques and strategies to combat time management. This document will also be updated periodically, allowing students to try different techniques and see which tips and strategies work best for them to lower stress throughout the week. The document contains tips on all of the tools Microsoft Outlook has to offer, and how to successfully create a time chart and a to-do list.
All of these will allow the student to manage their time wisely and reduce procrastination. Currently, the PCRC team is located on the 5th Floor of West Penn Hall as they await the new location in the basement of the student center, which is scheduled to open next year.
Many of the students had a chance to introduce themselves to a wide variety of spiritual organizations in Pittsburgh. The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, the Coalition for Christian Outreach, The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR – Pennsylvania), and Ramakrishna Vedanta Ashrama – Pittsburgh brought literature, such as religious texts and educational brochures, for students who are interested in those religions. The representatives also shared information about upcoming events at their places of worship. Any additional information about these organizations, as well as other events that can help students explore their faith on campus, can be found by paying a visit with Pastor Jennifer McCurry, Point Park’s Coordinator of Spiritual Life.
