Wiki+Collab+6+Nov.+29-Dec.+5

Each of you need to post an answer(s) to the following questions. If all of the questions are taken, you need to add information to someone else's post. Add any pertinent links or additional resources as appropriate. Remember to also cite your sources!

After you have posted your answer, place a line underneath your answer. You can do this by clicking on the icon to the right of the "bullet" icon. Place your cursor where you want the line, then click the icon.

Collaboratively discuss and define the following:

Stressors can be a result of situations present on your campus or in your community. Community stressors may be problems such as crime, pollution, lack of recreation facilities, and overcrowded classrooms or residence halls. Identify what you consider to be a major stressor in your campus or community. How would you go about changing this stressor?


 * Stressor**: Heavy Class Load
 * Changing this Stressor:** Having a heavy class load is my main stressor and I also think this is so for others in my majors, I'm a double in Acctg/Finance. Since the stressor itself doesn't create the body's response and it's the individuals reaction to the stressor, I would say that I am more a person that likes a calm, consistent class schedule and I have usually had that. This year I have a crazy schedule that requires lots of work so it becomes a huge stressor. I think efficient planning and just taking a step back and literally breathing helps me overcome this stressor.


 * Stressor:** Heavy Class Load (again)
 * Changing this Stressor:** I think that this is the main stressor for college students our age. This also goes along the lines of balancing your school work with actual work and activities. I know that personally its hard to find time with a heavy class load when you have work and are involved in activities. I know at times I feel overwhelmed that there is just not enough hours in the day to get everything done. I feel that in most cases students need to either cut back their work load or rethink their class schedule. However, something that has helped me balance everything is my planner. I write everything I need to get done each day and if there is excess time I write things down that I could start doing to get ahead. I feel that working ahead has really relieved a lot of stress for me and I dont feel the heat of procrastination. Also, in my planner I rate my list by priority so I always start with the highest priority first and work my way down. This has helped tremendously with relieving a lot of my stress and I recommend everyone try it. -Brianna Tank


 * Stressor:** Heavy Class Load
 * Changing your Stressor:** Anywhere on a college campus, you meet someone with a very heavy schedule, especially as a junior and senior. Majority of the time, most students take on an average work load and seem to do just fine or overloaded. It depends on the person you are. I have six classes right now and it can be very stressful sometimes but we have to remember that everyone is human and it is hard to take on so much at one time. Sometime you have to give yourself a little break or you wont accomplish a thing. I just recently had a test for psychology and the night before I learned nothing. I had a ton of notecards and was feeling overwhelmed and just freaking out about the whole ordeal. I had to get up at 5:30 am so that did not help either. I had to fill some shifts for a wellness fair and set up quick and started studying. I learned so much in that hour and ended up getting an A on the test.That just shows me it is so important to take a long break. We have to give our mind some time to relax, otherwise it will feel like a system overload. So when you are getting ready for finals remember to space things out accordingly. Try not to procrastinate, and make sure you give yourself time to yourself whether it is watching a movie, taking a nap, or going to exercise. We all cope with stress in different way but we have to remember to help ourselves and not overwhelm ourselves even more. Good luck everyone! Mary Bares


 * Stressor:** WORK
 * Changing this stressor:** I think trying to schedule work along with classes is my main stressor and I think a lot if college students go through this. I really think the only way to change this is obviously cut back on the amount of hours at work or at school, but some of us have to work to pay for things such as bills and school, and its hard to cut back on school hours because some places require you to have a full load to be eligible for certain thins like financial aid and insurance. So either way its a loss lose situation for college students i think! I think if there is just one day where you can find time to youself that would significantly relieve a lot of stress. Brittany Schwien

--Kristi Hammon
 * Stressor**: WORK
 * Changing this stressor**: I know that work can really stress me out because I work a lot and when I am not working I am stressed because I feel like I should be at work. Luckily, with my job I am able to make my own schedule that way I can make it work around my school work and my social life. I know that not everyone is able to make up their own schedule so I think other ways to avoid the stress of work is to not do more than you can handle. If you are working too much and it is starting to get in the way of class then to just talk to your work and try to work something else out and if they aren't willing to work with you then maybe look in to a different job. Also, I feel like working too much can take away from your social life during college but I work a lot and I still make time to hang out with my friends. I understand that having a good time in college is the right thing to do because you are only here for a few years and then you are off to work for the rest of your life, but I feel it is very important to keep a job throughout college that way you aren't just thrown into the working life after college. Hopefully everyone is able to keep a balance of work, school, and a social life the way that I am and if you aren't then I think a good way to avoid the stress of it all is to take a step back and find the problem whether it be too much work, or too little work and then come up with a solution to fix the problem so that it doesn't get any worse.


 * Stressor:** WORK
 * Changing this stressor:** I work in an auditing department and this time of year is when we are performing our audits for our external auditors. Therefore, I have a lot of audits to finish by a certain deadline. These deadlines couldn't come at a worse time because it is the end of the semester and I have many final papers, projects, and finals. Normally, my work schedule is very flexible, but these next few weeks I need to be in the office everyday to get the audits done. Being in a university community there are many students who work and go to school. These students have added stress because they have two main focuses in their lives. This added stress could be changed by empolyers being very flexible with work schedules that coexist with the students school schedules.

Christine (Beth) Wynn

LaKeesha James
 * Stressor:** WORK
 * Changing this stressor:** I work in social service agency with parents that have mental and addiction issues. Their children are currently living in residential care and not in the home. My job can be stressful but also have its rewards. My job becomes stressful when I am taking the children for visits in the parents home and they have illegal activities happening. I have worked on changing this stressor by looking for supports from my supervisor to decrease the amount of unsafe environments that I have to be in for my job. I also attened a conference that was hosted by OSF St Francis called Work/Life Balance. This has helped me deal with the amount of stress that is associated with my job by learning to keep the what happens at work in my workplace.

Changing this stressor:** I work in a strong sales environment. When I work it is expected of me to get a certain amount of sales everytime that I work. I usually take it pretty badly when I am not doing as well as I think I should be doing. I get angry and stressed out everytime that someone turns me down. I plan to change this by not taking the sales to persoanlly and make sure that I do not let my cowokers expect so much out of me. They do it for healthy competition but sometimes it just really makes me upset. The next time that I get turned down or upset I just need to be take a deep breath and calm myself down. I realize that when I have a positive attitude ("Ill get the next one") I usually sell better anyway. Therefore, I am going to calm myself down and tell my coworkers to stop pressuring me as much. Stefanie Smith
 * Stressor: WORK

Shannon Fortner
 * Stressor:** Crime
 * Changing this stressor:** I believe that crime is a big stressor for me. Every year we recieve more and more emails about different crimes that have happened on campus. Anytime I am walking around campus I feel like I need to be extra cautious about my surroundings. Even during the day I am scared if someone is walking right behind me. A way to help this situation is to always walk with people. I can also drive when it is possible so I do not have such a far distance to walk alone. I do believe that it is important for people to realize that just because they are on a college campus it does not mean they are safe to walk around at all hours of the morning so a little bit of stress in this situation is not completely bad.


 * Stressor**: CRIME
 * Changing this stressor**: I definitely feel like I am not alone when I say that all of the crime on campus stresses me out! Sometimes, it stops me from going to the library or to a meeting on campus because I get so nervous about being harrassed. I think I can try to change this stressor by teaching myself to stop being scared of all of the crimes recently occuring at ISU. I can start by always being fully prepared. For example, I will not be talking on my phone or listening to an iPod. I will ALWAYS be with at least one other person, but i'll try to be in the largest group possible. I will be ready and completely aware of my surroundings. I will follow my instincts if they tell me not to walk to my car, or to call for a ride instead of walking somewhere.

Cassandra Molof


 * Stressor**: Crime


 * Changing this stressor:** I also know what it feels like to be a victim of a crime on this campus which stressed me out so much last year I started to have panic attacks again. I had them when I was younger but didn't know what was wrong with me and when I started to have them last year I knew that first I had to take care of the problem that was stressing me so after I got the police involved I felt a little better. My stress also goes to my hand/fingers so I keep a stress ball at home so if I ever need it I have it close by. I also take deep breaths to calm myself, and talk to my family and friends.

Lakeshia Evans


 * Stressor**: Lack of Recreation Facilities
 * Changing this stressor**: Lack of recreation facilities is definitely an issue we have here at ISU. I used to work at a popular health center in the Chicago area, so I can see where our facilities lack. It is an issue, but I think there are different ways we can deal with this. First we could try to find exercises that can be done with the equipment available to us. We could also get a membership to one of the gyms in the area that is not affiliated with the school, even though this is more costly it would alleviate stress. We could also get involved with exercises that can be done at home or outside. I particularly like jogging and mountain biking that can be done locally. We could also use workout videos at home. I use this option often and workout at home with pilates and yoga tapes. -BKA

Stressor: Lack of Recreation Facilities 2 Changing the Stressor: Althought a new rec center is being built the current rec center makes it difficult to work out for a cheap price because it is very overcrowded and you have to wait in very long lines. It is a hassle because a normal 30 minute workout turns into a hour and with busy schedules this is just too difficult. A great way to battle this is to buy fitness videos and do workouts from your apartment or dorm. This way you have the privacy of working in your own place and you also have the ability to do it whenever it fits into your schedule. Another way to combat this is to find a less popular excercise like running on the track where you don't have to wait for equipment. ISU also has a pool that has free swim hours and swimming is a great cardio workout and it is great to switch up your routine and follow the F.I.T. guidelines.

Stephanie Mezzano


 * Stressor:** Sickness/Flu
 * Changing this stressor:** Being in contact with hundreds of people daily and staying healthy is very important. Especially this year with the seasonal flu going around along with the more powerful and dangerous H1N1 flu epidemic going around as well. It seems as everywhere you go there are signs up to get a vaccine shot. Or every news tv channel you go to, the topic of discussion is the flu. And going to a campus with 20,000 students doesn't make it any easier especially with finals quickly approaching and everyone wanting to be healthy for them. It's just another item on the list of things you have to worry about before the semester is over. It is important to wash year hands numerous times a day. Bringing along some hand sanitizer is a must. Eating healthy and taking vitamins helps reduce your risk. Excercising of course helps too. If you have any of the symptoms of the flu, hurry up and go to the doctor and get checked and get some medication. Here is a website on things to do to prevent the flu - [].

Cody Cox


 * Stressor:** Sickness/Flu
 * Changing this stressor:** The flu is extremely common this year. Being ill, whether it be with the flu or a cold, has a huge impact on everyday life. It is very difficult to focus and get your work done when youre foggy headed and nausiated. Washing hands is very important this time of year! Keeping a healthy diet and exercise routine is also important. Be sure to drink a lot of fluids! Getting plenty of rest is very helpful. Taking vitamins will help the body fight off sicknessas well.

Cleanliness around your home is extremely important to prevent spreading of germs. Clorox and Lysol wipes make this very easy. Be sure to bundle up when speinding time outdoors; gloves, a scarf, a hat, the whole works. Top 5 ways to stay healthy this winter 1 - wash your hands frequently 2 - disinfect common surfaces of your home 3 - exercise and eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables 4 - stock up on illness prevention supplies 5 - get a flu shot?? [] [] Amy Swanson

Elyse Wilson
 * Stressor**: Bad Economy - Not Many Jobs Available
 * Changing this stressor**: I'm graduating this December and with the current economic situation, finding a job is not going to be easy. Especially since I don't live around the Chicago area, there are less jobs available in the Peoria/Bloomington area. For the past few months I have been job searching, and have submitted my resume to several companies with no response. It's frustrating to find several jobs that fit my major, yet they want 2-3 years experience. Thus, its very hard for a college graduate to have this experience that they want. I guess changing this stressor is going to have to result in me lowering my standards about my first job - I may not be getting paid what I thought I was going to get paid having a double major. Also, I need to be happy to have a part-time job right now, because many Americans don't right now.


 * Stressor:** Bad Economy - Not Many Jobs Available (Part 2)
 * Changing this stressor:** My dad got laid off this time a year ago and still has not found a job yet he has applied for over 500 jobs during that time. He is very frustrated because for all the jobs he is finding he is either over qualified or they have already filled the position or something along those lines. When finding a job many people have restrictions that they put up when looking for a job such as distance they are willing to travel or how much pay they want to make. Many people are not looking to work weekends and if a job calls for that some people will automatically rule it out. Right now witht he economy being bad not a lot of people are spending money like they used to so businesses are suffereing because of it and due to this a lot of businesses are cutting hours or not able to hire people. With college students grauating every few months and having to compete with a ton of people who have already been in the professional world for numerous years makes it harder for them to have jobs while in some cases it could help them since they do have a degree while many others may not. I would say right now in this economy while many people are looking for jobs that even if a part-time job comes along it would be best to pick that up while you can so you can make money while looking for work.

Dana Peterson


 * Stressor:** Bad Economy - Not Many Jobs Available (Part 3)
 * Changing this stressor:** I am going to be graduating next week also with a degree in Business Administration. It is so stressful because I have been submitting my resume, attending job fairs, etc. and am not making any progress. From all of the resumes that I have put out there, I have not even gotten ONE call or interview! It is so frustrating because I really need money, especially because I was not able to find subleasers for my apartment in the Spring...which is going to be an additional $460 per month when I am not even living here! I hate it because every job posting either says I am either over-qualified or I don't have enough experience...how am I supposed to get experience if noone is hiring?! I guess that the only thing I can do is try to stay calm and realize that many people are in my same position. Hopefully this economy will turn around soon!!

-Lisa

**Stressor:** Bad Economy - Not Many Jobs Available (Part 4)
 * Changing this stressor:** When I went to the job fair in October, I thought there would be no hope for me with a future job. There were no companies that sparked my interest, and all of them seemed to need sales positions. I did not want to blow my 4 years of college down the drain just to help these people with their commission based jobs they give to anyone. I left the fair really dissappointed. I know that the economy is especially bad during the time I am graduating, but I am determined to find a job that suits me and for one that will not put my degree to shame. Since the fair, I have been looking online and applying for jobs almost every day. So far, I have gotten three interviews at companies that seem perfect for me, and waiting to hear back from them. The thing I would reccommend to people is to not give up and to look everyday for what interests you. I also have a lot of volunteer experience on my resume that is easy to acquire if you are lacking experience. Another thing to remember is that, the job doesn't have to be exactly what you are looking for, even if it is somewhat in your field of interest apply for it, you never know!

-Erin Gallagher

Stressor: Final tests, projects, and papers. Changing this stressor: I think that right now we can all relate to this one. Just thinking about it raises my heart rate and makes me antsy. A key way to conquer this stressor is by being prepared for it. We need to realize that right now we are being hit, or are going to be hit pretty hard in the next two weeks. We should organize our school information and be ready to battle them head on. Taking time to split and manage your time to apply it to everything we need to do. We should start now slowly looking over all that we have to do and figure out when we are going to do it so that we know we have enough time. Also because we will probably become flustered by putting this off we should learn to utilize some stress management techniques such as deep breathing or imagery. By doing this you will feel a calming effect and be more geared up to take on all our tasks. Also make sure to exercise to relieve the stress and leave yourself feeling more focused. melissa carls


 * Stressor: School**
 * Changing this Stressor:** I feel that the greatest stressor for my peers and I is school. The schedule of homework, tests, and projects seem to burden us down. It seems like all my classes schedule a test during the same week, which increases my amount of stress b/c I have to study a lot for each test. One way to change this stressor is to exercise so I can get a clear mind to help me to be more focused when I study. Another, way to change this stressor is to prioritize what needs done and when each task needs done. Also, having a positive attitude will help individuals deal with stress. Lastly, an understanding and supportive group of family and friends can go a long way in encouraging you and helping to relieve stress.

Galen

-Matt Mullin
 * Stressor:** Money
 * Changing the Stressor:** I feel that money is always an issue I worry about. I often worry about paying rent, food, car insurance and student loans. I have a fear of being dependent on others and that I may not be able to be self sufficient after I graduate in May. To change this stressor I can lay out a spending plan. If I am able to figure out a budget that shows where my money is being spent and what is being saved I can plan for the future. Having god budgeting school can help me live comfortably without constantly worrying about my financial situation. Here is a link that has more information on how budgeting can improve your life http://financialplan.about.com/cs/budgeting/a/12ReasonsBudget.htm.

Changing the Stressor:** I am constantly worred about money. I pay for my tutition, rent, food, cell phone bill, and any extras 100% by myself. I have obviously had to take out student loans to pay for school, which stresses me out completely. I'm worried about not finding a job right away after I graduate and not being able to pay back those student loans and not be able to support myself. I also try to budget my money. Prioritzing is a must. Even with doing extra things, like I want to go on spring this year, I have to have careful planning. So far, I have set aside money for upcoming events like Christmans and rent. I also started saving for future things like spring break and finding a place after I graduate. I send my mom money home each month for her to put into my savings account ( I don't have access here to do that). It helps a lot, but still worries the heck out of me. I know that I better get good at it though because I'm going to be budgetting and planning for the rest of my life. I might as well start and get good at it now.
 * Stressor: Money, part 2

-Raechelle Nailor

-Abby Barra
 * Stressor:** Money
 * Change the Stressor:** I am always worrying about money. It seems like I try to set a budget for myself or try to do everything that I can to avoid spending money, but I never seem to follow these. For example, last night I had to go out and get ink, paper, and a bunch of other supplies for my final projects. I also seem to go out to eat all the time. It also is difficult to find a job because I have no car on campus and I have very little extra time outside of classes. Also, with Christmas coming up, I have the extra stress of buying presents. I think the best way to get rid of this stressor is to set myself a budget for every week. I think that instead of trying my hardest not to spend money at all during a specific week, I need to just limit myself with a budget which would help to get rid of my stress if I follow that budget. Also, I need to look for small jobs that I can save a few extra dollars, but I can also continue to look for a job near campus that fits into my schedule. I can also work on spending less money on presents and making something instead of just buy stuff. I also think that opening a savings account could help me to change the stressor.

-BM
 * Stressor:** Money (part 4)
 * Change the Stressor:**The only thing that really stresses me out is the fact that I have a very small amount of money. I am graduating next week and currently have no job or arrangements planned out yet. I am planning on moving to Arizona to either pursue professional golf or get a job. My dad is all over me with getting a job and having some money. I suppose this could go under the bad economy section or money. I really find all of this section of the semester on stress to be quite shocking that everyone is so stressed in this day in age. With technology and everything being at the tip of a finger everyone expects so much and is impatient about everything. Now we are upset that we have to study or the room is crowded, the job is just too tough, etc. I like to take a step back and really look at my life and my problems and its almost laughable when you consider the tragedies some people and communities go through. Maybe I am just unusually easy-going compared to some people, but I cannot see the point in getting worked up over miniscule problems. My advice is just to let it go, don't worry about it, unless of course you have life or death problems, perhaps it is worth worrying about.


 * Stressor:** Crowded Dorm Room
 * Changing the Stressor:** I currently live in a quad in Watterson. Living in one room with three other girls isn't easy, especially because the quads are really only designed for three people. That means they cram four people into a space thats only big enough for three people. Having a roommate in college is a big adjustment for someone who has never had to share a room before, but it is even more difficult living in a quad. No one is on the same schedule, so there is always someone awake in the room. If I want to go to bed at 12, often I can't because someone else is up watching TV. This also makes it very hard to study. However, I have found a couple different ways to deal with this stressor. In terms of studying, I have found that it is just easier to go to the library to get schoolwork done. I go in between and after classes for a few hours and can usually get most of my studying and homework done. My roommates and I have also recently set up times where we try to be quiet so that whoever wants to can sleep. Typically, we quiet down at about 11 PM and don't turn on the TV in the morning until 11. If I am ever feeling overwhelmed or clausterphobic in my room, I go to the fitness center in the basement of watterson for an hour or so.

- Devoni Jorgensen

Stressor: Apartment living

Changing the stressor: This is my first year living in an apartment with 3 other people. I was really excited to get all moved in and thought it would always be fun to have your best friends around. Don’t get me wrong living in an apartment with your best friends is really fun and great most of the time, but there are some downfalls that tend to be very stressful. One of them being that different schedules can be hard on studying and getting your work done. Having three roommates’ means everyone will have tests at different times which can be hard when you one has to study. For example, a few weeks ago I had a huge test, but my other roommates had a pretty light week so they could just hanging out, which can be very distracting what you are trying to get ready for a big exam. Splitting up bills, food, and parking spots is very stressful as well. It will never be fair all the time, so when its not it can be very stressful trying to figure out ways in order for it to be more equal. There are a few things that we have discussed to help out these situations, just nothing has changed yet. Making a time where everyone should be quiet and respectful is a good idea so everyone who needs to get homework done can. Also, alternating months paying bills may be an option, and purchasing our own groceries could work so then no one is worried about if they have had more than the rest. Apartment living can be fun, but it is important to lay down the rules and expectations before hand so you are not caught in stressful situations like that. Rachel Collsen

Stressor: Lack of Parking Spots on Campus

Changing the stressor: The the majority of my junior and senior years here at ISU, I have found it increasingly difficult to find a parking spot near the college of business. Theres nothing worse than having to front $100 at the beginning of the year for a parking pass, only to have to end up circling the lot numerous times before finally resorting to paying extra to park in the parking garages. I can see why the university does this, because it generates revenue. But for the poor college student like myself, that extra coin really add up over the course of the year. Not to mention the loss of time, gas, and increased stress and frustration. In order to try to eliminate this stress, I opted to forego buying the pass for my last semester here at ISU and instead park in the McDonald's parking lot near campus. I know that this is probably frowned upon by McDonald's customers and employees, but it couldn't get any easier as far as finding a parking spot. Also, its basically the same distance from the classroom as if I were to park in the green lot right next to it, so whats the difference. I had seen some significant stress relief this semester on my way into class by eliminating this parking stressor. Matt Ryba