PUT YOURSELFout there

Everyone experiences hard times. It may be a challenging assignment, a breakup or the struggle to find belonging. Whatever it may be, Ellingsen said social connections can provide individuals with support to deal with these stressful situations. “It helps protect you from a lot of things, helps protect you from depression [and] anxiety.”

Yazzie Chee, a first-generation Native American student at the University of Oregon, saw the impact a support system can have on his wellbeing. COVID-19 hit his family particularly hard, and with stay-at-home orders in place and not being able to visit his relatives, he felt isolated and his social anxiety worsened. It wasn’t until he found a supportive community that Chee realized how much he longed for social connections.

Chee decided to take small steps to reconnect with the community around him. Last spring, he joined DucksRISE, a program that provides underserved students with career readiness and support. The program helped him see his worth and apply for an on-campus job.

Chee said he felt like the program was made with people like him in mind. DuckRISE helped him feel a sense of belonging. Chee started attending the program’s events and creating connections with other students, something he had previously struggled with. Today, Chee hangs out with friends on a regular basis and leans on them for support during rough times.

“Just because I was different didn’t mean I wasn’t valued,” Chee said.