I’m stressed out yo

I’m stressed out yo

You are not alone – I am seeing much a lot of stressed out students! But there are ways to cope with stress and make it less.. stressful. The Center for Student Wellness (bit.ly/BC-health-promo) can help you with online resources and even individual peer wellness coaching sessions.

Stormcloak or Imperial?

Stormcloak or Imperial?
Stormcloak or Imperial?

Well, I don’t really play video games because I’m a wall and don’t have hands. From reading this article (bit.ly/skyrim-sides) however, it doesn’t sound like the values of either of these groups line up with Boston College’s values of inclusion. This is because the Stormcloaks supposedly aren’t tollerant of anyone who isn’t a Nord and the Imperials don’t want to allow the Stormcloaks to practice their religion freely. Other than that, there doesn’t seem to be any benefit of one group over the other game wise. Happy gaming!

I failed my midterm and felt so sad? How could 2/I do?

I failed my midterm and felt so sad? How could 2/I do?
I failed my midterm and felt so sad? How could 2/I do?

Failing an exam is painful and it is something almost all of us go through at some point. I recommend moving on and working towards improving. Do talk to your professor at their office hours (that’s what they’re for) and go for peer tutoring at the Connors Family Learning Center (bit.ly/BC-connors). I have faith in you.

Conversations with people about behaviors of theirs that I wish would change.

To what degree should I have conversations with people about behaviors of theirs that I wish would change....or just accept who they are?
To what degree should I have conversations with people about behaviors of theirs that I wish would change….or just accept who they are?

It depends on the behavior and what kind of relationship you want to have with the person. But better to say something early than pretend you’re OK with something you’re not. It might be no big deal, or it might be, but you’ll only find out by saying something.

How racially segregated is Boston today? How safe would a black person be in Southie, or a white person in Roxbury?

How racially segregated is Boston today? How safe would a black person be in Southie, or a white person in Roxbury?
How racially segregated is Boston today? How safe would a black person be in Southie, or a white person in Roxbury?

Sadly, quite segregated. In 2019, Boston was 18th (of 113) of the most segregated cities >200,000 pop., according to the Othering & Belonging Institute at Berkeley (bit.ly/SegregationUCB). The percentages of Black residents in Southie and white residents in Roxbury are low (see Analyze Boston data: bit.ly/BostonDemoData). “Safe” is hard to define, but racially motivated hate crimes rates in Massachusetts haven’t changed much recently.

I’m a senior now and I have no motivation…

I'm a senior now and I have no motivation to do anything... HELP :(
I’m a senior now and I have no motivation to do anything… HELP 🙁

A wise human once told me that motivation comes from “success at meaningful tasks.” What often gets lost in the shuffle is the meaningful part. I recommend finding something small & relatively easy but meaningful (to you) that you can commit yourself to doing daily, e.g. a gratitude list, picking up litter, saying something supportive to someone… . I think you’ll find after a few weeks of this that you’ll strengthen connections to your values.

How to deal with imposter syndrome?

How to deal with imposter syndrome?
How to deal with imposter syndrome?

First, recognize that imposter syndrome affects many people–probably even people you respect and admire. Next, ask yourself: where do you think these feelings began for you personally? Opening up to a friend, mentor, or therapist about your self-doubt can help you gain more perspective about your situation. Practice writing down positive feedback you’ve received and try to let yourself believe it. Over time, talking about these feelings and practicing self-compassion will make it easier for you to challenge harsh beliefs about yourself. Remember–you didn’t make it this far on luck alone. I believe in you!

Gonna go see Spelling Bee?

You gonna go see the Dramatics Society's production of Spelling Bee?
You gonna go see the Dramatics Society’s production of Spelling Bee?

While I do speak six languages, alas, I am a wall, and therefore unable to attend live theater performances. I’ve heard that tickets are sold out anyway, but hope everyone breaks a leg! We always knew you were a winner!

How do you tell if you deserve more from someone?

How do you tell if you deserve more from someone? An how do you communicate that?
How do you tell if you deserve more from someone? And how do you communicate that?

You can (and should!) voice your wants and needs. But be mindful of your words. (“Deserve” sounds ready for resentment.) Have a conversation about what you want and how not getting it makes you feel. Someone might not know what you want, or if they know, might not know how you feel about it, or if they know and aren’t providing, perhaps it makes them uncomfortable in some way. There are many possibilities, and you will both learn and grow by having a conversation.

Do you have feelings for Bapst?

Do you have feelings for Bapst?
Do you have feelings for Bapst?

While some might say Bapst is a little stone-faced, I have always found Bapst warm and welcoming once it opens up and lets you inside. And even though people say Bapst is the pretty one, I’m not the least bit jealous.