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COLUMN: Saying no scares me

(03/26/14 5:23pm)

It's difficult to say no. We struggle to say no to our bosses because we want to please them so we can move up in the company. We can't say no to our teachers because we want good grades so we can get a good job and have a bright future. We try not to say no to our family members because they are a vital support system. We never say no to our friends because they're our peers, and we just want to fit in with someone. Saying no is almost like putting a roadblock up, saying we can't do something, or we don't want to because it's not important enough. Saying no is seen as a sign of weakness because it's like waving a white flag, a sign of defeat like we can't do everything. I hate the word no because I feel like it puts me in the position of helplessness. I don't like telling my bosses no because I know it lets them down. I feel the weight of their expectations dropping onto me like cinderblocks, bashing my future into small bits. I hate telling them I can't do something for them. I'm supposed to be superhuman, supposed to be able to do anything and everything that this business expects from me. I'm supposed to be the top reporter and the top contributor because it shows them that I'm here to fight for this paper and for this school. It shows that I'm determined to make this work and nothing will get in my way. This week has been hellish for me because I have an issue with saying no. I have editors down my throat because I couldn't come up with stories on time. I had my bosses telling me I can't do my job because I have too much on my plate. I had people telling me I can't do my job. My biggest problem is letting these people stick in my brain. It gets me down. I start to doubt myself, start to contemplate different ways to get out of the situation, out of the business and sometimes even out of life. I let these comments about my competency stick with me because these are supposed to be people that know more than me. These are supposed to be people that help shape me and mold me into one of the best reporters out there. These are people that have the job of guiding us to be the best we can be as a staff. But these are my peers. We're all learning. None of us are perfect, and I need to start taking their critiques with a grain of salt, letting the pressure roll off my shoulders. I need my self-confidence back. I need to remember there are jobs out there that I am more than qualified for, but I came back to school for a reason. I need to get my degree to create the best version of myself, because without that degree, I can't do anything. I'm not superhuman. I can't do everything. I don't know everything. My classes are more important than anything. I need to make the word 'no' a bigger part of my vocabulary. I need to get comfortable with letting other people down before I let myself down.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2014/03/column-no-scares-me

COLUMN: Lost in the crowd

(02/19/14 4:58am)

A spring 2013 American College Health Association study revealed that 30 percent of students responded as feeling “so depressed that it was difficult to function" at some point in the past 12 months. I wanted to explore the options students have at Central Michigan University when seeking to help treat and prevent mental illness – and what I found out was troubling. While there are numerous resources for students to receive short-term care, few resources are available for students seeking care on a regular basis. Short-term services are available at the counseling center in Foust Hall, and students might also receive care from a counselor in their residential area. Listening Ear, a crisis line located in town, is also available 24-7 by phone. While these resources are impressive and show the devotion CMU has for student health, there is a large number of students who go without care. There are plenty of counseling options in the city of Mount Pleasant, however, these services are often too expensive for a college budget. Although the Affordable Care Act granted students the ability to stay on their parents’ insurance plan until the age of 26, concern for confidentiality might deter students from seeking treatment. After speaking with a representative from Planned Parenthood, I confirmed my suspicion about confidentiality rules. The representative clarified that when a student is a dependent under a parent or guardian’s insurance plan, the insurance bill will specifically list the services received. For students who do not wish to disclose their mental health status, they would have to pay out-of-pocket for long-term therapy, which tends to be expensive. A simple Google search of “mental health 48858” led me to several potential sources of treatment. However, many dialed to broken phone numbers or closed businesses. Is this really the state of mental health in our area? CMU students account for more than 40 percent of the Mount Pleasant population. So where are the adequate resources for those of us who need long-term care? I have experienced anxiety and depression, and I feel abandoned by my university and my city. Counseling can be provided for students who only need short-term care or for students who do not have a problem with parental disclosure – but what about those students who do not fit either category? We contribute to this university and city for four years or longer, and yet when we ask for a service in return, we are left with unanswered questions and disconnected phone lines. The mission statement for the university includes CMU as “a national leader in higher education inspiring excellence and innovation.” By failing students with no adequate health treatment, CMU is failing the mission of the university itself. Although I love CMU and the opportunities offered, I am deeply concerned about how students can access the mental care they need. No one can be their best if they are sick. For a school that emphasizes the slogan, “Take Care" – it seems that there are many of us who just get lost in the crowd.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2014/02/column-lost-in-the-crowd