1. February 2016
Letter from the Director:
TaJuan Wilson
5 Things Every College Graduate Should Know
With graduation quickly approaching for many of you, I wanted to share
With you all 5 things that every college graduate should know. Whether
you are graduating this year, next year or several years from now, the
information contained in this article will serve you well.
A Degree Does NOT Entitle You to a Stellar Job- This is difficult to hear, but true. I sincerely applaud
all college graduates, but please don’t assume you will immediately be offered a six figure job,
with full benefits, a one month paid vacation, a corner office and a parking spot with your name
on it. I’m not saying you won’t eventually get those things, just not immediately.
Find What You Love to Do- The time you have after college is the time to find what you sincerely
love to do. Not what your parents told you that you should do, but what you will be happy do-
ing each and every day.
Lean How to Interact with People- Leaning how to interact with people is one of the most valuable
skills you can have in your belt. Don’t go buy a book on this! The best way to learn this skill is to
put it in practice. You will find that the skill of comfortably interacting with people will help you
when it comes time for promotion and persistence.
Practice Good Office Politics- Yes, everything you’ve heard about this is true. It does exist and often
times it’s not pretty. This is why you should always be on your best professional behavior. I rec-
ommend keeping ALL emails. Be prepared to back them up and have everything in writing. If
you anticipate a problem or situation, document it as fully as you can. Do not trust your
memory alone. I could write a book about this one alone, but I think you all get the point.
Build and Maintain a Social Network- Things change after college. It’s not good or bad. It’s simply a
fact. Building a new social network is crucial. Studies have shown that having a strong social
network leads to positive mental and physical health over the course of one’s life. Don’t just
stay home and play video games! Make friends at work. Work friendships take time, but they
are worth it.
Securing your first job is exciting. It’s important to be realistic. I only want the best for you all. I just
think it’s important to give it to you straight. Best wishes for a successful month!
2. DEAR Karen: I'm a junior in college and my major is a challenging one. I'm work-
ing very hard in my classes to keep my GPA up so my application will stand out when applying
for medical school. We’ve only been back on campus for a few weeks and I'm already losing it. I
have a job, I’m the president of the biology club, volunteer at the hospital and take care of my little
sister on the weekends. In addition to all of that, I have an insane workload I'm trying to stay on
top of while spending enough time with my boyfriend so he doesn’t feel neglected.
With everything going on, I've been having meltdowns nearly every day. I leave class sometimes
just to hide in the bathroom to compose myself. I spend hours doing homework and still don't get
everything accomplished that I need to. Last year a few of my friends left school due to stress. I'm
afraid I'm burning out too. What should I do? Should I drop out of the program or seek outside
help? -- STRESSED IN SPRINGFIELD
DEAR STRESSED: The first thing to do is talk about all of your concerns with a
counselor at your school. If you are at the point where you must leave class and "hide," you need
help immediately. You may want to consider modifying your class load, cutting down on your
hours at work, or adjusting your extracurricular activities in order to free up some more time.
But dropping out of school should be your last resort and only after having discussed it with your
parents and your counselor, because there may be other acceptable options.
DON’T FORGET to complete your
applications for the “Leaders in
Community Service” program. I
have brochures in my office with
more information regarding eligibil-
ity but you can also find the applica-
tion online at: http://organizations.missouristate.edu/lcs/apply This valuable program helps students find a job in
the community working for a “not for profit” organization (some sites are within walking distance) and MSU pays
your salary of $9.50 an hour. There will be an LCS Mixer on February 22nd
from 4-5 p.m. in the PSU room 315 A and B.
You will get the opportunity to speak with students in the program and hear their experiences. If you have any addi-
tional questions please don’t hesitate to stop by my office, email me or call 836-6343.
Congratulations to Tyree Williams on his internship this sum-
mer with Jerry Thomas Public Relations graphics team in Chica-
go. He will be training from February 1st
– May 1st
via skype
and email.
Congratulations to Kim McConkay on her new substitute
teaching position in Monet as well as her upcoming wedding in
May.
3. Emily Aderhold
Professional Writing major
Graduation December 2016
Audre Lorde once said, “Caring for myself is not self-
indulgence, it is self-preservation. . . .” Psychology Today
asserts that self-care is practicing self-soothing activities; a
way to calm ourselves physically and emotionally. “Self-
care means choosing behaviors that balance the effects of
emotional and physical stressors. . . .” (Meinecke)
Modern society – along with the stressors of school, fami-
lies, and work – require us to play many roles. Assuming
the role of a superhero, or being all things to all people,
and putting our own needs last, comes at a price. Prioritiz-
ing everything else above our own needs can have a detri-
mental effect on one’s self, family, friends, and community
at large. It is crucial to engage in self-care.
Self-care requires that we pause to develop a healthy frame
work for living. Self-care may include intentional
actions you take to tend to your physical, mental, and
emotional well-being. Practicing may look vastly different
for each person. While it may seem overwhelming to add
another task to your already hectic schedule, self-care has
been proven to reduce stress, and encourage good mental
health. Think of a game of Tetris. If you were the game,
and the blocks kept stacking on each other, without any
tending to clearing the rows, the game explodes. Self-care
is one method to keep the blocks at a lower and managea
ble level.
Simple activities like daily physical activity, social support
or practicing a hobby can greatly improve emotional and
mental well0being. There are also benefits in activities such
as art or writing as therapy. Art – consider the current en
thusiasm for adult coloring books – can allow you to access
and invoke a sense of calm. Coloring books can be found at
local craft stores, or there are multiple sources on the inter
net to print pages for free. Listen to an audiobook or relaxing
podcast as you color. Some enjoy ZenDoodles. Again, there
are internet and text sources for instructions for this active
ty. Likewise, daily writing, such as a gratitude journal, can
shift one’s internal dialogue from negative to positive. Any
healthy activity that soothes you can be considered self-care.
Social support can be a tool for engaging in self-care. Spend
ing time with friends or people in similar life situations allows
you to feel like a part of a group larger than yourself.
4. Sources for social support can be found at campus groups, churches,
recovery centers, or other self-help groups.
Set aside time each week for self-care. Turn off you cell phone, and
limit messaging sources. Take a bath. Read a book or magazine you
enjoy, but is not required for school. Check out YouTube videos to
learn guided mindfulness meditation, or how to perform self-
massage. Practice these on a regular basis. Listen to your favorite mu-
sic while working on an art or craft project, dancing in your living
room, or soaking your feet in a hot tub, followed by a pedicure. Eat a
healthy meal, then take a walk around the block or in a natural set-
ting.
Practice deep
breathing exercises,
or other relaxation
techniques. A simple
method is to imagine
a right triangle.
Breathe in to the
count of three as you
imagine a sphere
moving up the left
side of the triangle.
Hold your breath to
the count of three as
you imagine the
sphere moving down
the opposite side.
Exhale to the count
of three as the
sphere travels across
the bottom of the tri-
angle. Repeat until you find yourself in a more relaxed state. This
breathing exercise can also be done at school when you find yourself
stressed. You may experiment with the breath count; do what feels
comfortable to you, but remember the point is to slow down and calm
the mind and body.
Making the act of self-care a priority, rather than something that hap-
pens by accident on an irregular basis, can greatly improve your life,
which in turn allows you to be a better student, parent, and friend. Set
aside some time to recharge, so you can function well in other areas of
your life.
Meinecke, Christine. “Self-care in a Toxic World.” Psychology Today.
Psycholgy Today. June 4, 2010. Web. February 9, 2016.
5. February
Recipes
By: Danielle Joyce
Twice-baked
Spaghetti Squash
2 small to medium spaghetti
squash
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 pint marinara sauce
1/2 lb italian sausage or
italian chicken sausage
1 bag of baby spinach
1 cup mozzarella
1/2 cup parmesan
salt and pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Slice the two spaghetti squash in half lengthwise (stem to tail) and
scoop out seeds and stringy flesh.
Place squash on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with 1 of the tablespoons of oil. Sprinkle with salt and
pepper then bake for 40 minutes (smaller squash may need only 30-35 minutes).
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat sauté the chopped onion in the other half of the olive oil (1
tablespoon). Cook the onion until translucent (about 5 minutes). Then, add in the sausage and continue
to cook until sausage is all browned. Add in marinara sauce. Once the sauce is hot and bubbling stern in
the spinach a handful at a time, until it is all wilted (this should only take a minute or two). If squash is
still cooking at this point, remove the skillet from the heat and let sit until squash is ready.
Once squash is out of the oven, use a fork to gently pull the squash flesh from the peel, separating the flesh
into strands. If the squash seems too hard to scrape, return it to the oven for an additional 10 minutes.
Rake your fork in the same direction as the strands to make the longest "noodles."
Toss the squash noodles into the sauce mixture then place back into the peels.
Top each squash half with cheese, dividing the mozzarella and parmesan between the 4 halves.
Place back in the oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
Via thevintagemixer.com
INGREDIENTS
5-6 cups Pop Secret popcorn
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup M&M's
½ cup Golden Grahams cereal
½ cup miniature marshmallows
INSTRUCTIONS
Spread popped popcorn over a baking sheet.
Melt chocolate and drizzle over popcorn. You can use a spoon or pour
into a piping bag.
Immediately toss candy, marshmallows, and cereal on top.
Allow chocolate to set for 30 minutes or place in refrigerator for 10
minutes.
Via apumpkinandaprincess.com
6. Interviewing
Workshop @ 4
PM Karls 232
Fin. Aid 101
Workshop @ 3
PM Siceluff 119
DeAntra Da-
rough Birthday
Fin. Lit.
Housing for
your Budget
Workshop @ 2
PM Cheek 171
NO CLASSES
President’s
Day
Katya Urvina-
Cabrales Birth-
day
Valentine’s
Day
Tunnel of Op-
pression @6
pm Wells
House
Shanay Jack-
son Birthday
Charmeisha
Reid Birthday
Charmagne
Ramey Birth-
day
Crystal Phillips
Birthday
SAC Presents:
“Selma” PSU
Theater
Rebekah Mil-
ler Birthday
Samuel Ma-
hone Birthday TRIO Day of
Service
Wicked at
Juanita K
Hammons @
2 pm
Community
Involvement
Fair PSU @
10-1
Tunnel of Op-
pression @6 pm
Wells House
Kim McConkay
Birthday
SAC Presents:
“Selma” PSU
Theater
Foster Recrea-
tion Wellness
Expo