Becoming u

Becoming U. Finding yourself in four years

How to stay healthy at the worst time of year Are college students at risk for mental illnesses?

March Madness: a spring break recap

April 2018

APRIL Inside 3 Editor’s Letter 6 In the News 8 The Journey Out of My Comfort Zone 10 Mental Illness & College Students 13 6 Ways to Stay Healthy 14 Wellness 15 The Montly Review 16 Spring Breaker

Editor’s Letter College is supposed to be the best four years of your life, and for the most part, the saying is absolutely true. You meet the friends for life that you will essentially grow up, creating a family in your home away from home.

College can also be the most stressful for years of your life. I have yet to meet one person who can do it all and be functional and bubbly all the time. The semester is winding down which means your stress levels are reaching an all time high. Everything you may need to know now is in this issue; but read it at your own leisure. The most import part is the wellness section. Especially at this time of year, you need to take extra good care of yourself. Remember a number doesn’t define you, especially your GPA, and I promise you, you’ll get it all done. Those late nights are all going to be worth it come summertime, and you deserve that break more than ever. I’ve been there; you’ve got this.

Best of Luck,

BM Dougherty

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In The News

Pop Culture 1 According to Forbes, Cardi B is now just the second female hiphop musician in U.S. history to collect both a No. 1 album and a No. 1 single on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts, respectively, and she’s now matched a feat first accomplished by one of the greatest musicians of all time: Lauryn Hill.

Sports

Global

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The New York Mets currently hold the best record in the National League and racing to one of their fastest starts in franchise history. The only team who came this close to their streak was the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.

Former first lady, Barbra Bush died April 17 at the age of 92. According to CBS, President George W. Bush remembered his mother as “warm and wonderful until you got out line, then she wasn’t too warm and wonderful. It’s the end of a beautiful life.”

2 2 Khloe Kardashian gave birth to her baby girl True just one day after allegations of partner Tristian Thompson cheating. It reportedly took Khloe a few days to complete True’s birth certificate, and it wasn’t until well after the 12th that she reportedly decided to go with True Thompson, as she felt it was the “right thing to do.”

2 The New England Patriots have reportedly “expressed interest” in UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, one of the top prospects in the 2018 NFL draft. Quarterback Tom Brady reportedly has yet to commit to playing in the 2018 season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, multiple sources believe Brady will play. However, his status for 2018 isn’t yet certain.

Stormy Daniels finally made her appearance on “the View” on Tuesday, April 17 because she’s “tired of being bullied”. After her interview with Anderson Cooper, Daniels is currently being sued by President Trump for $20 million and could potentially face a $1 million fine every time she speaks out about her alleged 2006 tryst with the former reality show star.

3 3 According to Caramanica of the NY Times, Beyonce is bigger than Coachella. Queen B brought back Destiny’s Child as well as performing her own hit singles making it the most tweeted about with 2.8 social media mentions. #Beychella had 458,000 simultaneous global viewers tuned in to see Beyoncé become the first black woman to headline Coachella.

3 The Vegas Golden Knights originated just this year, and are already the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. The team waits to see who it will play in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after sweeping the Los Angeles Kings, the Golden Knights are the favorites to win it all.

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After President Donald Trump executed an attack on Syria, Putin and Trump have continued their partnership through the recent criticism. “I am outraged that President Trump pulled back sanctions on Russia for its support of the Assad regime,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “This sends a message to governments around the world that they can support brutal, criminal behavior without serious consequences.”

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Suitcase

The Journey Out of My Comfort Zone My parents don’t own passports. The farthest my father had ever traveled was to Mexico with the Navy. They are cautious people, and traveling now comes with so many risks that are out of their control.

So by design, I never traveled. I always envied kids in my second-grade class who went to Italy with their family for spring break, or traveled to the Caribbean for Christmas in high school. I was the first one in my family to get a passport for a day trip to Canada with friends. My mom and dad refused to let me study abroad for a semester in college which only drove me crazy. I have no desire to stay in the same place, and I wanted to see everything I could while I was young. I vowed to be the parent that travels with my children one day, but I still hadn’t done so myself.

My junior year of college, I was surrounded by constant Instagram posts from my classmates around the world, instantly regretting a decision that wasn’t even mine. Rebellion hit me. I decided to apply for a service trip to Vietnam through my school. I didn’t tell my parents, and when I did I spoke casually about it. A two-week trip was much easier for them to wrap their heads around than four months. Don’t be fooled, no one was happy I was going. I had finally gotten my way and was ready to jet set to the opposite side of the world.

what did I think I was doing? The farthest I had traveled from home was a six-hour flight from Boston to Los Angeles, and I even classified that as an adventure in my book. Some people on the trip at least had some travel experience

to Europe and even Australia, but a communist country in Asia was definitely out of any of our expectations.

Culture shock is incredibly real. After we landed in Da Nang,

Vietnam almost 24 hours later, our professor had to teach us how to cross the street and eat our meals with chopsticks. Our service work was with orphan children in the SOS Village, who taught us so much without language.

Even something as simple as rock paper scissors is much different in the Vietnamese culture. There were moments of complete confusion and homesickness, especially with the change in diet and pretty constant sickness.

But after a few days, we all felt confident enough to go out in the city alone.

The guys on the trip were determined to “live like the locals” and committed to traditional food, drinks and ac@bmairead112 tivities. They were not afraid to try the new food and were able to lead us out of our comfort zone. Without them I would not have been as adventurous as I was, and I owe them for my newfound confidence in navigating a new culture.

I miss Da Nang all the time. I will hold it close to my heart not only because of the service we did, but because it changed my perspective on so many things in such a short amount of time.

Experiencing different countries and cultures was everything I hoped it would be and more. The only ques-

When I arrived the airport and boarded the 16-hour flight to Hong Kong, reality hit me. Vietnam culture was so different from American culture;

tion is: when and where’s my next adventure?

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Are college students more at risk for mental illness?

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Cover Story Senior Alexandra Hoffman wakes up before 7am for her first class of the day, immediately arguing with herself for almost 30 minutes to get up and get out of bed.

She has to convince herself that the day is worth getting up for. Between her oncampus job as an admissions counselor, her internship at the Boston Expedition Center, on-campus event coordination, her capstone project and a full class schedule, she is just one of the millions of college students who struggle with numerous pressures and heavy workloads. After two years of struggling with her congested schedule, Hoffman was barely making it through her days coping with undiagnosed depression her junior year.

“At that point, I had a lot of health issues aside from undiagnosed depression which made my everyday life extremely difficult,” Hoffman remembers. “I was drinking obscene amounts of alcohol, relying on other people for my own happiness, and making choices like not going to class and ignoring responsibilities to lay in my bed and do nothing. My mind would never stop racing about how people hated me, and no one believed in me, and I couldn’t help myself which was the scariest part of being a high functioning person with depression.

No one really knew what was going on until it got really bad.”

When students originally come to college, they have a newfound independence that requires them to create schedules consisting of full course loads, parttime jobs and occasionally internships. Students feel enormous pressure to be involved in clubs, organizations and Greek life all at one time, creating a hectic lifestyle for students. With college comes social pressures, increased workloads, homesickness and financial strains that can impact mental health and wellness.

The fact of the matter is that there is a metal health crisis facing young adults and college students in the current environment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 75% of lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 24. This makes college a critical time for young adults; it is possible that stress and overworked bodies are more likely to develop mental illnesses within their next few years. The most common illnesses among students are addiction, depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

If left untreated the symptoms from these illnesses can lead to attempted self-harm. Campus across the country are taking precautions to prevent students from getting to their lowest point.

Sarah Gallant, a senior at Lasell College has worked as a Peer Health Educator for four years. She reflected on mental illness in her peers by saying, “you can’t prevent mental illness but by being educated you can help others and be an ally”. Gallant and her fellow peer health educators along with the on-campus counseling center work to educate about relevant health topics and create and health-conscious culture within the community. Events such as the stress-free fair, fresh-

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check day, mental health awareness week and suicide prevention and mental health fair are created to be aware that students struggle with these illnesses every day.

Lasell College Peer Health Educators work on these programs to not only spread awareness but reach out to those students who have an undiagnosed mental illness.

According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, 30% of students feel so down at a point in time that it was difficult for them to function.

The issue is not how many students develop mental illnesses, but how many go unnoticed and untreated. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports the average time from time between display of symptoms and treatment is eight to ten years, and 60% of adults with mental illnesses did not receive treatment within the past year. On college campuses, an American College Health Association survey found that only 12% of students who suffered from significant bouts of anxiety and depression went to counseling.

Lauren DiGiandomenico, a senior at Lasell College, went only a year after her first signs of symptoms to her official diagnoses and treatment for anxiety.

DiGiandomenico entered her first year excited

to begin her college career, but ended up struggling to recognize herself when got deeper into the year and busy with her assignments and commitments to clubs and work. “My most difficult time in college was definitely my freshman year,” she remembers.

“I was getting throw into a new place, my first time living away from home, and I did not know one person on Lasell’s campus. The fear of new routines, an unpredictable future, and potentially losing touch with close high school friends made me feel emotions I was completely unfamiliar with.”

During her first year at school, DiGiandomenico consistently woke up in the middle of the night once or twice a week having panic attacks and breaking out into hives.

At the time, she didn’t understand what was happening to her mind and body; she would wake up heart racing, sweating and shaking. During her attacks, she would call her mom which disguised her anxiety as homesickness for some time. DiGiandomenico continually felt out of place in her own mind, but could not make sense of the issues she was having.

Cover Story

college is a stressful time and it’s a major transition time in life.

Students are under high amounts of stress

Before her sophomore year, her doctor officially diagnosed her symptoms and gave her the medication she needed to regulate her mind. “I currently take the lowest dose of Prozac to help cope with my anxiety,” she says. “My doctor has been slowly weening me off of it lately; I am starting cope with my anxiety without using the medication as my crutch. I go to the gym every morning and take a run. It clears my mind and helps me stay stress and anxiety free throughout the day. I remind myself every day that whatever I am worrying about isn’t going to ruin my

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life, I am not going to die over something I can’t control, and how strong I am and all the hurdles I have overcame to get to this point in my life.”

The director of advocacy and public policy at NAMI, Darcy Gruttadaro states, “college is a stressful time and it’s a major transition time in life. Students are under high amounts of stress and their also exposed to a culture that they may have been sheltered from of drinking and marijuana use. There’s a lot of social pressure and a lot of academic pressure.” Both Hoffman and DiGiandomenico said that their symptoms were more prevalent during their last semester in school. While struggling to finish their capstones, manage work and internships and apply for full-time jobs, the stress has made it harder to focus on their mental health.

Meanwhile, Hoffman admits while her health has improved over the past year, she still lives with her depression day to day.

“One thing that I still struggle with is getting up in the morning” she says. “My medication lets me calm my mind and not think so negatively all the time, but it doesn’t allow me to get out of bed and get ready for the day.” Once diagnosed with her mental illness, she knew it wouldn’t go away. But since discovering her depression, she has learned to cope with her emotions by going to therapy and devoting time to herself. “Being able to sit up, stand up, grab a coffee and get to class is automatically another day that I beat my depression and don’t allow it to control my life like it did last year.”

Wellness

7 Ways to Stay Healthy at the end of the semester April is by far the worst month of both the semester and the entire school year. Stay healthy through this stressful time with these simple tricks from the pros that’ll have you skipping into summer.

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Spend your Sunday’s meal prepping

Stress eating can make you gain unexpexted weight and drain your energy that you desperately need this time of year. Take some time during the weekend prepping healthy, on-the-go meals that will fill you up but also keep you happy and ener-

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Don’t skip out on Meals As eat as stress eating can be, forgetting to eat is just as common. Stress can change appetite or hurt your stomach.

Pack plenty of healthy snacks for the library and remember to schedule in your meals

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Keep your social life alive It’s easy to get wrapped up in your work and forget to keep in contact with your friends. Get a group together and do homework or shoot your mom a call. The more human interaction you have, the happier you’ll be.

Forget those all-nighters

You may be tempted to give into your late night motivation and stay up until all hours of the night, just to get your work done and over with. Remember sleep is a priority and you’ll get way more done once you’ve gotten your share of shut-eye.

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Skip the coffee; grab green tea Too much coffee can dehydrate your body, and during finals you may think that all that caffeine will keep you going, but you’re putting yourself at risk. Green tea will also keep you energized and can even improve brain function.

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Take the stairs You may not be able to afford an hour at the gym, but that doesn’t mean you give up on easy exercise. Take the stairs or walk to class rather than driving. The activity will release endorphins that will make you happy!

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Wellness Wellness

April Fitspo Spotlight

@Rix.official

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The Monthly Review

‘The Greatest Showman’ changes the course of movie musicals

incredible things about the screenplay is the issues that are addressed; not only ones relevant to the time period of the movie but in our current e n v i r o n m e n t .

For the same price as a circus tent ticket, audiences can

see the dramatized backstory of P.T. Barnum played by Hugh Jackman, and the creation of his traveling circus. From the very beginning, viewers are struck by powerful and contemporary music and follow a story of success and acceptance.

The film itself was created like a Broadway musical, and director Michael Gracey engages audiences with risky stunts and breathtaking effects that leave them speechless.

With a resume including ‘La La Land’ and ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul add a modern-day sound to a point in history that changed the course of show business. Audiences will be transformed through music into the story itself, leaving the theater with chills and lyrics continuously stuck in their heads.

The story follows Barnum from a childhood in poverty to adulthood, on a journey to give his family a more extravagant life and respect from those who treated his father with none. The self-proclaimed “showman” brings together a community of people who normally hide away because of their flaws, and gives them a family within the circus. During a time in history when there was little acceptance given to those on the outside, Barnum gave them a purpose and a place to display their talents.

THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE - P.B Barnum

While the story mostly follows Barnum’s journey to make it big, the additional stories are what make the film so impactful for audiences allowing them to connect with their emotional sides. The bearded-lady, played by Keala Settle shocks audiences with her incredible voice in the standout song of the movie, ‘This is Me’; a proclamation of courage and self-confidence.

Race is not overlooked in the range of issues addressed as well. Black trapeze artist, Anne Wheeler, played by Zendaya and circus investor Phillip Carlyle, played by Zac Efron, struggle with their unwavering feelings for one another, even with the understanding that their current society would not accept an interracial relationship. One of the

While the circus may have closed its doors, that does not erase it from the memories it has made in the eyes of history and show business. It may not compare to your childhood memories, but it surpasses all expectations of just another movie musical. The best part about this movie is that it’s simply a crowd pleaser, no ifs ands or buts. It wasn’t created for any demographics except for those who take pleasure in the old school musical. In the words of Barnum, “this is where you want to be.”

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Directed by Michael Gracey. Screenplay written by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon; based on the life if P.T. Barnum. Score by John Debney and Joseph Trapanese. 105 min. PG

Spring Breaker

March Madness

Spring break has come and gone, but it is still a college student’s rite of passage; many readers took this opportunity to let loose during a grueling spring semester. Readers sent us pictures and live updates on their adventures and we lived vicariously thought you. There is no better way to spend spring break by Spring break may be over, but it’s focusing on anything other than responsibilities, and here’s how you all spent it. never too early to start planning your next trip.

If You Go...

Tropical Getaways

When everyone thinks of spring break, they picture beaches with young adults from across the country and ridiculous night life. Whether it’s Miami or Cancun, our readers did it all. There’s nothing wrong with going a little crazy and embracing that college student stereotype. Spring Breaker’s enjoyed the sun, met new people and spent time in a hot city who lives like it’s spring break all year round.

Destination: Miami Beach, Flordia

Road Trips

Who needs the hassle of airports when you can just get in the car and go? Road trips give you the ability to be spontaneous and see places you would have normally never come across.

Take the back roads across your state and back or create a map with your friends of places to hit during the week. It is a great way to spend time with one another but still get away from the madness of life.

Foriegn Travels

Some of our readers caught a plane to Europe and spent a few days in numerous cities. What better way to spend your time than checking new countries off your bucket list. Maybe visit friends abroad to save some cash, and have someone who lives like a local teach you about the city and its culture. Who would say no to a trip to the Trevi Fountain, Buckingham Palace or a photo-op in Greece.

Theme Parks

What better way to forget the struggles of everyday life than with a trip into fantasy. Spring break is the perfect time to finally explore Disney World or Universal Studios and invest in thrilling rides and Mickey shaped treats. Reader’s who may have felt a little left out of the party drank their way around Epcot. This was a spring break you will always remember, and one of your last chances to truly embrace your last leg of childhood.

Staycations There’s nothing better than catching up on sleep and relaxing for a week. Readers got back to their fitness routine in preparation for summer, did some laundry or binge watched three seasons of a show on Hulu. Dare I say even got ahead on schoolwork? There’s honestly not many reasons to get out of bed for a week, but that sounds like the best spring break ever if you ask me. Special thanks to the readers who stayed in bed with Ceboming U. ♥

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Where to stay: $ For your cheapest option, Airbnb

has plenty of options in Miami Beach for less than $100 per night. $$ Residence Inn, Miami Beach and Townhouse Hotel Miami offer locations on the Beach for under $200 per night. $$$For a price of $300 per night, one of the most famous options on Miami Beach is the Fontainebleau Miami Beach; a well-known luxury resort that frequents the finest guests.

What to eat: $ Las Olas Café offers a local menu

including Caribbean and Cuban options. Great food for the best prices.

The Cuban sandwich is a must try and a favorite among locals. $$ Pane & Vino offers a moderately priced Italian meal on Miami Beach.

Pasta is prepared in the restaurant window creating an authentic vibe. A great place for date night! $$$ For fine dining, head over to StripSteak by Michael Mina is one of the most popular locations. Located inside of the Fontainebleau it has and expensive but one of a kind menu featuring Lobster Pot Pie.