GRADUATION JOB PLACEMENT:
Mobilizing for a cause:
Visit nwmissourinews.com Sunday to view a photo gallery of ECHO Communication Club’s walk for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Go online to check out a story focusing on the aspirations and reservations of Northwest’s graduating seniors as they enter the “real world.”
Summer Movies: Check out this week’s Vibe for a preview of this summer’s blockbusters. | A9
northwest missourian
THURSDAY | APRIL 11, 2013
V88 | N26
FACES OF
STRESS
University offers relief for students struggling with busy schedules, heavy workloads as finals approach JOSHUA PHILLIPS Chief Reporter | @NWJPhilly
The normal levels of anxiety and stress have increased campus-wide as students are assaulted with papers to write, finals to take and other last-minute details to worry about. Freshman Zach Rogers, an elementary education major, says he has one of the most stressful majors here at Northwest. “They are constantly changing the standards and requirements,” Rogers said. “You have to work almost twice as hard since the grading scale is higher than other majors. For instance, a 91 percent in the education department is really considered a B.” Although Rogers says he feels stressed about the education department’s grading scale, he is looking forward to the summer. “I feel relieved that this year is wrapping up soon since my classes this semester have required me to do a lot of work,” Rogers said. “I also cannot believe that I am almost done with my first year of college. The main stress is in preparing for the finals.” While Rogers relieves stress by listening to music, hanging out with friends or even taking a drive in his car, senior biology major Taylor Overmiller has two different methods that help him get rid of stress—faith and running. “Faith helps a lot,” Overmiller says. “I know that God is in control of everything and being a member of the track team helps too. Having practice every day where you get to push everything out of your mind and go take it out on the track is always good.”
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Overmiller is stressed with taking finals and job hunting after graduation. Another thing that stresses him is that his lease expires on April 30, so he has to find a place to live for a week during finals. Once finals are done, Overmiller has to cross the finish line in three separate events: the conference meet for track and field, commission ceremony for the U.S. Army and graduation. “My little brother is graduating high school, so I am supposed to figure out how I am going to have my commissioning ceremony and attend my own graduation, then get back and help with his,” Overmiller said. For stressed out Bearcats, Wellness Services has programs to overcome stressful situations in college, such as the continuing Stress Less Event and Project Hope’s Live Your Life Day. “My biggest role with stress is helping students learn how to deal with stress and to overcome that,” Health Educator Jennifer Kennymore said. “My biggest role is to just raise awareness about the fact that there is help for stress—you can come in and talk with one of our counselors—and then teaching students some simple ways to deal with stress.” Kennymore helps put on the Stress Less Fest, which is a free event that takes place at least once every semester. Last semester the event was put on twice—the first time to welcome students to the new school year and also during finals. The Stress Less Fest has been recognized by the American College Health Association, which gave it the Best Practices in College Health award.
Find more Online A video of how The Missourian Staff deals with stress
nwmissourinews.com SEE STRESS| A5
Northwest Missourian