Some students arrive at college with past experiences that have affected them, many times choosing to cope with their issues alone. They carry the wounds from the death of a loved one, a life-threatening or altering illness, a fractured relationship, or any number of difficult situations.
Other students may have led a fairly worry-free life until coming on campus. Suddenly, they may encounter troubles they weren’t prepared to face like severe homesickness, poor grades, substance abuse or relationship issues.
Whether they fall in one category, the other, or somewhere in between, many students are unable to move forward because they’re haunted by their past or are uncertain how to cope with their day-to-day stress without becoming completely overwhelmed.
The Office of First Year Experience and Family Programs will host clinical psychologist and author Joel Nuñez for a keynote lecture titled “Getting Out of Your Own Way.”
His lecture will he held Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in Tinkham Veale University Center, ballroom C.
In his talk, Nuñez will reveal that even when external obstacles like past trauma, tough exams or job searching seem overwhelming, they are still less paralyzing than the hindrances students put on themselves.
Believing that a loved one’s death means they can never love again, an illness means that they should stop living, or failing at something makes them a failure are all common internal challenges students face—and all can lead to unhappiness, academic underperformance, transferring and even dropping-out.
The good news is that all students can learn to dismantle these mental barriers, enhance their mental and relational health, and experience outstanding results.
Nuñez helps audiences unearth inner resources they never knew they had, overcome external challenges they never thought possible, and unleash their greatest potential. He believes that every student can learn how to get out of his or her own way and begin leading happy, healthy lives. This program will address student persistence, mental health and enhancing overall student well being.