18 3.4 Chapter Review and Activities
As exciting and exhilarating as education is, it also comes with its stress and anxiety. There are numerous supports available to help you. Supports and resources include your own personal network, student support services, and academic course supports. Be sure to access these supports throughout the semester to make sure you keep on track. All too often, people wait until they are overwhelmed before seeking support. At that point, stress and anxiety are harder to deal with, so try to reach out early on. There is nothing wrong with needing a little help. In fact, it’s perfectly normal.
Exercise: Support Systems
| Barrier/Need | Support | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|
| When I get discouraged | My friend, Sarah | (Phone number) |
| When my anxiety flares up | My counsellor, Bob
Yoga class |
(Text or email)
Community Centre |
| When I have temptations re: alcohol issues | My Celebrate Recovery (CR) group | (Sponsor’s phone number) |
| When I have financial struggles | Financial aid officer, Lois | (Email address) |
| When I have trouble with essay writing | College writing lab | M W F 9am-2 pm |
| When I have learning issues | Education advisor, John | Student Services (Karen) ext 3243 |
| When I get overwhelmed | Meet up with my walking buddy, Janine, to take a break, get exercise and fresh air, and clear my head. | (Text) |
Make the list as long as it needs to be. Fill in all the expected issues (big or small) that come to mind.
Key Takeaways
Accessing supports and resources is a wise thing to do while in post-secondary.
Personal supports include:
- Friends and family
- Support groups
- Teams, clubs, or committees
- Special interest groups
Student support services include:
- Education advising (or academic advising)
- Financial aid
- International support
- Indigenous support or aboriginal gathering place
- Accessibility services
- Counselling
- Assessment services
- Employment services
Course supports include:
- Writing labs
- Learning centres
- College and local libraries
- Peer tutors
- Study skills workshops
- Tutorials
- I.T. support