November 18, 2016

Page 1

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 95 • Issue 11

M

Let me pencil you in

The Maroon

As millennials face higher expectations to make the cut for grad schools and jobs, they must also avoid burnout

November 18, 2016

Students declare a 'Sanctuary Campus' By Davis Walden jdwalden@loyno.edu @daviswald

ANNA DOBROWOLSKI / The Maroon

By Starlight Williams slwillia@loyno.edu @star_lightw

Up at 7:30 a.m., Kate O’Leary is already on the run and getting herself ready for the day as she grabs a quick bite to eat before her first class at 9:30 a.m. From there, she slogs through four back-to-back classes before going to work study in the biology department. With time running against her, O’Leary, biological sciences senior, uses every second to make her day count, and she’s not alone. The increased demand on millennials to be more than just students and to stand out as graduate school or employee prospects forces them to juggle multiple commitments that could include: being a leader in the community, being involved in extracurricular activities, working one or more full- or parttime jobs, athletics, children and a loaded class schedule. This does not include balancing mental and physical health and a social life. Halfway through her day, O’Leary takes an hour break after work study to do cross fit at a local gym before running back to campus to do homework for an online class through a different school. She doesn’t take the class for Loyola credit, but to increase her science GPA so she may stand out in the applicant pool for medical or physician assistant schools. O’Leary grabs dinner and is off to her next meeting, whether it be for her sorority Delta Gamma, Iggy Vols or LUCAP. After her meetings, she bunkers down in her room as a resident assistant in case one of her residents need her. While being on call, O’Leary works on homework and projects into the wee hours of the morning. When her day is finally done around 2 a.m., she cranks out an average of five hours of sleep

before starting the clock over with a hours per week, then the extra 1520 hours per week of potential work new day. “I don’t sleep much. I complete- energy should be invested in somely understand when people say, ‘If I thing.” According to Stanley, the readon’t get eight hours of sleep, I’m a mess,’ but that is simply not the case son why students need to achieve for me,” O’Leary said. “Even though more than previous generations is I don’t get much sleep, it’s my fourth because graduate school is much year here and I’ve never failed a more competitive than it was in the class. I have a pretty decent GPA, I Generation Y and baby boomer eras. “There has been an increase in have an active social life and I’m happy. So five hours of sleep would the amount of students applying for graduate programs, but there really not be uncommon for me.” All this action is only a Monday hasn’t been a correlation increase of open spots,” Stanley said. “Students for O’Leary. She fills the other 518,400 sec- do and have to do more in order to onds of her week as a tour guide hopefully stand out in the applicant for Loyola’s Office of Admissions, a pool.” However, according to Kate Yurresearch assistant in Ochsner’s neurosurgery lab and cancer center, a gil, assistant professor of psychology at Loyola, teacher’s astaking on too sistant in the environmen- “Maintaining a full schedule is many responsibilities could tal sciences great; however, be careful what have serious department, consequences, a volunteer you fill it with." both pragmatat Habitat for ically and psyHumanity and — Laura Garbers chologically. as a student in Career and business coach “In a pragher chemistry matic sense, our ability to accomand biology labs. Students like O’Leary may seem plish multiple goals at once depends superhuman, but Jeanne Stanley, on having sufficient time, resources executive director of Grad School and on our own individual capabilCoaching, said these are the people ities,” Yurgil said. “Underestimating for whom graduate schools are look- these factors can lead to significant declines in performance on one or ing. “In grad schools, they want to see more tasks. As a result, the pressure that you can juggle multiple things,” we feel to maintain or improve our Stanley said. “They want to see a performance may increase feelings of anxiety, and increased anxiety student that can do it all.” Laura Garbers, career and busi- can have a negative impact on atness coach, agrees with Stanley and tention, decision-making and other said that when hiring, managers are aspects of behavior.” This is why, according to Kathlooking for students who were highryn McKinnon, time management ly involved. “There is no excess involvement expert and author of “Triple Your in college and career, as long as stu- Time Today: 10 Proven Time Mandents are able to balance the work agement Strategies to Create & Save involved,” Garbers said. “It's im- More Time!”, being able to manage portant for students to demonstrate one’s time proficiently is essential to at least 40 hours per week of activ- being successful. “Effective time management isn’t ity during college. In other words, if classes and studying takes 20-25 just about getting things done. It’s

not about staying busy. It’s about living the best possible version of you. It’s about doing things that you’re passionate about, that excite you, that make you feel alive. It’s about setting aside time to refresh your mind, body and spirit,” McKinnon told The Maroon. Yurgil warns that if a person doesn’t manage their time well or forces a full work schedule, they may be at risk of burning out. Yurgil said one of the hallmarks of burnout is physical and emotional exhaustion, diminished concentration, mood swings, social withdrawal, apathy and unusually poor performance. “If you recognize these signs in yourself or a friend, it is helpful to evaluate your habits, priorities and environment,” Yurgil said. “Make time for friends and family, as social support is one of the most important predictors of resilience. It is important to take time for yourself to rest, recover and replenish those resources.” According to Garbers and Stanley, hiring managers and graduate schools don’t look to see if their new employee or student is on the verge of burnout, which is why one must be very aware of what he or she is capable of doing. “Maintaining a full schedule is great; however, be careful what you fill it with,” Garbers said. “It's simply a matter of balance and what is the most important and healthy way for you personally to fill your week.” Stanley recommends students not compare themselves to other people and take a year off to self-evaluate and avoid burning out. “Transitioning from high school to college is a learning curve,” Stanley said. “I always advise my clients to take a year off and get a few life experiences. Not only does it give you time to recuperate, but it also

See MILLENNIALS, page 12

Loyola students and faculty left classes abruptly Wednesday at 2 p.m. to join forces in the Peace Quad for a “solidarity walkout,” organized by a new campus group, the Loyola Community Coalition for Social Justice. Approximately 150 Loyola community members gathered on the front steps of Monroe Library, where students and faculty spoke about social justice and unity. Walkout speakers included Melissa Alba, political science junior; Sarhely Morales, political science sophomore; Susan Weishar, migration specialist of the Jesuit Social Research Institute; Ashley Howard, history professor; and Alvaro “Al” Alcazar, director of the Twomey Center for Peace Through Justice. An open mic session followed the scheduled speakers and allowed students to share their experiences as members of minority groups and express their concerns about the presidential election results. Students spoke about hate and the need to fight for human rights. Katlyn Hash, history junior, attended the event with friends and posted a Facebook live video of the demonstration. “It was great to see how a lot of people came together to support those in their school community,”Hash said. “It was really powerful hearing not only students speak about their experience after the election, but also hear teachers' side of things.” Around 3 p.m. the Loyola Community Coalition for Social Justice led a march around campus, ending on St. Charles Avenue near the Loyola letters. Marchers chanted “Love not hate makes America great” and “Say it out, say it clear, everyone is welcome here.” “We wanted our event to incorporate the national walk-out movement while also tailoring it to the values and message of Loyola,” said Andie Slein, a leader of the Loyola Community Coalition for Social Justice. “A walk-out demonstration is particularly effective on a college campus because it can be disruptive to the usual flow of the day of classes while also allowing everyone a chance to congregate at the same time."


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