As we pass our midterms and reach the halfway point of this semester, it is a good time for a wellness check. At this point, students should know what path they are on for their final grades and overall progress. Of course, these grades can change with hard work and the proper communication with your professor. However, whether you are at the right place in your studies or working to catch up, it is important to assess where you are mentally, emotionally, and physically. Arguably, maintaining your health in all three of these components will naturally produce better work and results in school. 

For me, midterms were difficult. It took a lot out of me to balance all of the school work and studying I had to do, while working full time. Spring vacation gave me a very much needed, yet short break to relax and reorganize. A week was not enough and I know many of you can relate. 

Since returning from spring break, I have planned out the rest of my courses to fully understand what I need to do and what I am behind in. This has definitely eased some of my anxiety, as before I felt more confused and lost as to what my plan should be for the rest of the semester. I reorganized my agenda which I had neglected to use the past month or so. Making or reorganizing an agenda might be a great way for you to visually see what is due and when, so you don’t miss any important dates and assignments. 

Furthermore, I also have taken time to use the resources UMass Boston provides for students, such as their academic support services. UMass Boston offers academic support programs such as tutoring and workshops to help any students who need it. It is a free resource and should be taken advantage of. I understand a lot of students either fail to realize they have these kinds of resources or are hesitant to reach out for help. As a Dean’s List student, I must say the academic support programs are still extremely helpful. Talking to my advisor and also meeting with a tutor has lifted a lot of unnecessary anxiety and worry off of me. These tutors can not only help you with content you are not fully comprehending, but they can also offer more personal insight and advice. I was able to learn some new studying and planning techniques and methods, which so far have made a huge difference. It also gave me a moment to realize that I am not alone in my struggles. My tutor and I talked about things they once struggled with and overcame, which motivated me to want to do the same. 

Moreover, another great resource UMass Boston provides us with is the counseling center. Although this isn’t an academic resource, it is just as important to use. Many of us, especially at this point, are struggling with things such as depression and anxiety, which most of the time can hinder our academic performance. The counseling center can help with these types of struggles and can help with traumatic events that you may have experienced or are experiencing while you are studying at UMass Boston. And although they cannot provide long-term counseling, they do gather many different therapy institutions and options that you can refer to and use. I am currently using the counseling center to find a long-term therapist for me. So I will write an article in the future with updates from this search for those who are interested. 

I have been searching for a long-term therapist for a while now and have had no luck, so the counseling center has been a very important resource for me. It was much harder to do alone, so I appreciate their professional help. I would highly recommend you reach out if you are finding yourself in a bad mental space. Again, I believe your mental and emotional health are important and should not have to be sacrificed for your academics. Arguably, with a healthier mind and soul, you will produce better school work in the end.