The Center For Male Success

By Samuel Almazan Senior Staff Writer

A Center for Male Success at Housatonic? Finding out that HCC had such a center was quite surprising, even confusing. Why does such a center exist?

As you may already know, Housatonic has the Women’s Center. The main purpose of the Women’s Center is to create an environment that works towards a climate of gender equity and social justice that will enrich the lives of all members of the HCC campus and community. The Women’s Center serves as a space for support, and education by programming, discussing, and advocating for women and other marginalized groups in our society. Overall, it’s a space for women of HCC to find comfort and help.

So, finding out that the center of males exists at HCC, as stated before, was quite a surprise. Finding out why this center exists and what it offers, was the next step in this journey.

The Men’s Center’s main purpose is to create an ongoing learning community for male students. It also supports students navigating through the difficulty of college life. This center has dedicated individuals who advocate for an improved educational experience and quality of life for male students at HCC.

“We point people towards resonating what they might need or want in life”, said Omed Hossaini, a student worker for the Center. Omed is a sophomore at HCC, and he’s been working at the Center since Spring 2022.

Omed adds, “The Men’s Center is focused on helping males with finding resources, studying for classes, and making connections for future careers.”

Even though the Men’s Center is oriented toward males, it also helps with the Women’s Center and other communities at HCC. Last semester, the Men’s Center made connections with the LGBTQ community, to work together and create future projects at HCC.

“The Men’s Center is a support and resource hub for anyone that identifies as male,” said Alexandros Valiantis, who is the coordinator of the Men’s Center.

Valiantis notes that part of the reason the Center is needed is that growing up, boys are taught to be tough and push through any challenge they might face. Young men aren’t taught to seek help.

“Males aren’t taught to ask for help and be vulnerable. But The Men’s Center is teaching male students to ask for help and be vulnerable,” he added.

The Men’s Center’s focus is to set up connections for students, where they can use these connections to find success in life. The Center also provides mentorship for males to stay on the path of success.

The Center for Male Success is a wonderful resource for students; doors are open for everyone. This goes to show that at HCC, there are resources and help in every corner. All you have to do is just reach out. Visit the Men’s Center in Beacon 325, or learn more at https://housatonic. edu/mens-center

By Cierra Johnson Staff Writer

Depression and anxiety are at an all-time high, and you might find it hard to put yourself out there. It might seem like these factors are out of your control, but it’s time to take back your life and get out of your comfort zone. Here are some things you can challenge yourself to do to break out of your comfort zone and start building a brand new you!

For anybody who suffers from both depression and anxiety, I feel like starting up a new hobby is always a good place to start, whether it’s a hobby that you do alone like reading, meditation/fitness, or something creative, or hobbies that require you to be around other people like sports, taking a class or starting a group/club. Get up and get it started. Even if you’re not consistent with it, you know that it is something you can always come back to when you need that “me” time. Having depression can feel like an endless fight. Some days you might not feel like getting out of bed, and sometimes you might rely on others to try and boost your mood. But people are not always going to be available whenever you need them, and with anxiety, always having that constant fear hovering over you like a dark cloud when it rains, everybody tends to stick to what they are most comfortable with. Don’t get me wrong, comfortability is a good thing. But putting yourself in a box and never coming out for any sunlight or air can make comfortability feel like entrapment. We need to be able to open that box and experience all the things that the world has to offer and one good way to do that is to take yourself out on a date.

Put yourself out there, try new things and talk to new people and have conversations. Be adventurous. Don’t let your fears hold you back. If you let your fears hold you back, you will never experience life. Do not sit and continue to allow your depression and anxiety to change your life. Take back control and be a new and improved you!