There are TONS of student clubs and organizations that are registered and recognized here at York,
Check out all our clubs HERE!
over 500 to be exact!! Among all these clubs and organization there is one that holds a special place in my heart, that organization is Health Education and Promotion.
You might be wondering, why I care so much about this one club. Could it be because I was a member of the club for 4 years? Could it be because it taught me countless skills that I use on a daily basis? Or could it be because their uniforms are totally awesome?? I would say that it is ALL of these reasons and so much more. I cannot even begin to discuss all the amazing experiences, friends and memories that I made over my four years with this organization.
Now that the mushy stuff is over with let's get down to the real question that's on your mind... WHAT does Health Ed do??
Well Health Education and Promotion is a student run organization that advocates for student health on
Check em Out on Facebook
campus. Health Ed consists of 2 professional health promoters who plan programs on and around campus focusing on health topics relevant to university students. Health Ed hosts events to raise awareness about health issues, health solutions and resources and organization where students can seek out support.
Health Ed hosts weekly events on both the Keele and Glendon campuses where students can find information on health topics that interest them. Wellness Wednesday would have to be one of my favourite events since no matter what topic is being discussed there are always really AWESOME prizes being given away!! Best part, all you have to do to get a prize is play a quick fun game, and who doesn't LOVE games?!?!
Health Ed is made up of 10 different topic teams:
1. Leave The Pack Behind (Smoking Cessation)
2. Health Eating and Nutrition
3. Active Living
4. Stress Management and Mental Health
5. Sexual Health and Healthy Relationships
6. Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness
7. Peer Sexual Health Outreach Program
8. Glendon Team
9. Health Education In Residence
10. Running Relief
To find out a little bit more about each of these team check the Health Ed Website HERE !!
These are some of the AWESOME folks I met at Health Ed!
During the course of my career at Health Ed I worked on the Stress Management, Alcohol and Other Drug and Peer S.H.O.P teams and I LOVED every second of my time there. How much did I love it you ask?? Well check out this video I made all about Health Ed!!
If you've got questions about Health Ed or you want to check out any of their events feel free to follow them on twitter @healthedyork and like them on Facebook!
As always remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!!
Now that we have passed through the dark days of Midterms and things are calming down a bit you might find yourself full of nervous energy. You might be looking for a way to expel that energy in a healthy and positive way. OR perhaps you might be finding that you want to get a little more activity in your life, since its getting colder outside.
With this in mind I have a suggestion for you!! Have you ever heard of Running Relief?
Running Relief is a FREE running program run by Health Education and Promotion.
How does it work?
-Run at your OWN pace
-Run with peer coaches who help with technique and keep you motivated
-Attend a running related 30min workshop once every other week
-Run for stress relief, to quit smoking, to become more healthful, for your own personal interest or just for fun!
Where does it happen?
-RR takes place at the Toronto Track and Field Center (TTFC) which, conveniently enough is located RIGHT ON CAMPUS!! Check out this walking tour on how to get there!!
-It is important to note that use of the TTFC is FREE for all FULL TIME York students, all you have to do is ACTIVATE your YUCard. To activate your card you will need to bring PROOF that you are in fact a current full time York student. Once you activate your card you will be able to use the TTFC for free for the rest of the school year.
Yeah this all sound GREAT but...When is it??
WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN?!?
-Running Relief happens 3 times a week
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-7:00pm.
Friendly Tip
--There are lockers that you can use at the TTFC all you have to do is bring your own lock and a quarter. You can store your extra clothing and personal items so they are secure while you run.
How HAPPY do they look!?!
They are READY TO RUN are you?
Piqued your interest?
If you have any questions about Running Relief or you want to talk some more about how it all works feel free to check out Running Relief on YU Connect, or e-mail healthed@yorku.ca or healthedprojects@gmail.com , you can always tweet @healthedyork or like them on facebook as well!
Now GET OUT THERE and Run for Relief!!
Until next time...remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the zone!
The RED Zone is a POPULAR place this summer. Since we opened over 3 months ago we've talked to more that 4400 students. We've made tons of new friends and I'd like to think that we've been helping students feel a little more confident about starting at York in the fall!
A common concern among all of the students I've met with this summer has been dealing with the stress of starting at university. Students are all concerned about adjusting to the workload and being able to handle the transition from high school to university.
With that in mind here is my top 5 list of things that you can do to avoid or reduce your stress while at university.
Top 5 list of ways to stay stress free: 5. Choose your attitude
-You can deal with any situation that comes your way! You can either choose to address it head on or address it by stressing out about it and becoming depressed or angry. By deciding to stay positive instead of being negative can make all the difference when you have a lot on your plate.
4. Make a "to-do" list
-Making a list of all the things that you have to do can help you to see just how much you really have going on. Without a list how will you know how to divide up your time? Making a list can help you see everything you have to do, knowing exactly what you have to do can help you manage your time and therefore your stress. PLUS crossing things off your list feels SO REWARDING!
3. Set priorities
-After you've made your list, set priorities. Rank them in order of importance. Sometimes it might be difficult to decide which order to put things in, I recommend ranking things in order of when they are due, or how long they will take you to complete. If I have an assignment that is due in two weeks and will take a me a few days to fully complete I'll put that higher up on my list. Check out this video it helps explain the importance of making lists and setting priorities (it's only like a minute so it's not that much of a time commitment)! Thank you Brain Tracy!
2. Make time for fun!
-Rewarding yourself for with some "you" time helps keep your stress level down. Running, biking, dancing, sleeping. Whatever you like make some time for it, it'll keep you motivated and help to reduce your stress.
1. Set S.M.A.R.T goals
- If we use the S.M.A.R.T goal system we can take any task from the abstract idea stage all the way to completion! What does S.M.A.R.T stand for???
S = specific, making a goal specific means ensuring that it is something small enough that you'll be able to complete it.
M = measurable, your goal must be something that you can track your progress. You won't want to start a goal and not be able to check how close you are to achieving this goal.
A = achievable, this goes back to making a specific goal. Make sure that you can actually complete this goal
R = rewardable, this refers to motivation. Knowing that you have something waiting for you when your finish your goal will keep you focused.
T = time limited, you don't have forever to finish these goals, especially when it comes to a goal related to school work. Setting a time limit for your goal will also keep you motivated to complete it.
Let me know if these tips help you deal next time your feeling stressed!
University is all about new experiences! This is the time in your life where you are officially viewed as an adult...and with that designation comes independence like you've never experienced before. For some university students that translates to experimentation with alcohol. Experimentation is an important part of growing up and learning, however sometimes it can lead to the development of destructive habits.
This is what the site looks like.
In an effort to keep students as healthy and safe as possible, York has adopted a new alcohol education course that all incomming first year students living in residence, first year varsity athletes, orientation leaders, student leaders and residence life staff must complete before attending York in the fall. This educational tool is called "Alcohol EDU."
If you're anything like me the first time you heard about "Alcohol EDU" you thought...WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?
Well Alcohol EDU is an online alcohol abuse prevention program, it provides students with a personalized approach to alcohol education. It is specifically designed for ALL students; whether you're a frequent drinker, light or moderate drinker, or someone who does not drink at all.
The Pumpkin had
a little too much!
Whether you choose to drink or not, we believe that you may be in contact with people who do drink over the four years that you're at York, or in your life at some point (if you haven't already). This tool gives you some great tips on how to help a friend who may have had too much to drink.
Alcohol EDU is a two part education tool. The first part must be completed by AUGUST 31st 2012! Approximately 45 days later the second part will be e-mailed to you for you to complete. Part 1 takes about 90 mins and Part 2 takes only 15 mins.
As a member of Health Education and Promotion, and a Frosh Boss I've had to do Alcohol EDU in the past and I have to do it again this year and I can tell you from my own personal experience that it's really not that bad. I know that having to do an Alcohol Education program might seem a little lame but trust me this tool is actually pretty good. It's super interactive, it has short video clips and games that you play while you learn. I feel that I must mention that it is an American tool so they use A LOT of American terminology, things like "college" instead of "university" and the drinking age as "21" instead of "19". Just ignore all the Americanization, the Alcohol info is universally the same and that's what's most important.
Serving Sizes can be fun!
It was created with students in mind and so it's catered to help you understand your perception and use of Alcohol. I'm not really a drinker but after completing Alcohol EDU I learned that my perceptions of alcohol and people that drink are actually not representative of the realities of how people drink in university. I learned about serving sizes, how the body processes alcohol and a lot of other great info. Trust me you'll use it at some point in your life and it also makes a really great icebreaker convo at a party, "Hey did you know that 1 shot of hard liquor is the same as 1 12oz beer to your body?" Well maybe the convo won't go exactly like that :P !
For Colleges and Universities!
In case you were wondering, York is not the only school that uses the Alcohol EDU tool, other schools like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and UCLA also use Alcohol EDU. I don't know about you...but that's good company to keep! I was super impressed when I found out that York can be grouped together with these prestigious schools who are also dedicated to keeping their students safe and healthy!
As an incomming student you have to do the program, but trust me you'll learn something that you didn't know before. Look at this program as an opportunity to learn something new about alcohol without having a painful or embarrassing experience attached.
Let me know what you think of Alcohol EDU when you take it!
P.S. If you... or your parents have any questions about Alcohol EDU at all feel free to contact Leah State at lstate@yorku.ca or 416-736-5196.
P.P.S. Check out some of the Alcohol EDU promo videos! They are pretty funny and I'm in a few of them...see if you can find me!
When I first came to York I was really overwhelmed by the size of the campus and the number of people. In my first year I didn't really get involved too much with clubs or organizations outside of residence. It was all a little too much for me!
I did however, get really involved with what was happening in my res building, especially with what was happening on my floor. In second year I was actively looking for ways to become more involved with campus life (back in those days we didn't have YU Connect so finding clubs was a little more challenging!)
After searching high and low I discovered Health Education and Promotion. Although I wasn't able to join immediately (since they only hire once a year) I did attend a lot of their signature events, as well all the programs they hosted in my res. By the end of my second year I KNEW that this organization was for me...I just had to convince the folks in charge to hire me.
After a nerve-racking interview process I was lucky enough to be offered a volunteer position within the organization. I still remember the phone call I had with the wonderful Ms. Leah State!! I was so happy and shocked and excited to be invited to join the team, I remember being speechless and Leah saying "Are you there? Hello? Do you accept?" I was thinking, screaming YESS but I couldn't make my mouth work LOL.
I wasn't sure what to expect but from day 1 it was AMAZING! I found my home away from home, my family if you will! Honestly I didn't expect the people to be so nice, friendly, welcoming and warm.
The sense of family and community within the Heath Ed organization was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before! When I talked through campus before joining Health Ed I kept my head down and didn't attempt to talk or to make eye contact with anyone. After becoming part of the team, I couldn't walk through Vari Hall or Central Square without seeing people that I knew! It completely changed everything for me, in such a positive life-affirming way.
I've been a part of this organization for four years now and honestly I don't know how I'm going to manage when I finally graduate and I have to leave! I've met so many amazing people and learned so much I don't know what I'm going to do when it ends. Luckily I don't have to worry about that till the end of the year!
It's not the first time that I've mentioned HealthEd and I PROMISE it won't be the last!! It's become such a major part of life since it helped me grow and develop as a person and it helped me to meet people and make friends.
If you want to enrich your university career I highly encourage you to join a club or organization. Trust me you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!!
I can't tell you the number of times I've heard people on campus complaining that there are no health info services on campus. The number of times I've heard people say they wish there was someplace people could go to get info on nutrition or stress management or sexual health is truly shocking!!
Look for the LOGO!!
For those of you that don't know, Health Education and Promotion is an organization whose mission is to provide York students with health info about different topics that are of importance in the lives of university students.
There are 10 different teams that cater to specific health topics and student needs, they are:
1. Active Living Team 6. Sexual Health and Healthy Relationship Team
2. Nutrition and Healthy Eating Team 7. Peer S.H.O.P (Sexual Health Outreach Program
3. Leave the Pack Behind (Smoking cessation) 8. Men's Health Team
4. Stress Management and Mental Health Team 9. Glendon Campus Team
5. Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Team 10. Health Education in Residence Team
As you can see Health Ed covers pretty much EVERYTHING you'll need to about health while you're at York. The best part about Health Ed in my opinion is the fact that they are a student staffed organization, all the people hosting the events and running them are other students. Students tend to be more comfortable talking about health issues with fellow students and that's exactly what you get at Health Ed.
Look out for Health Ed they are literally EVERYWHERE on campus! Whenever an event is going on you'll see them in their signature GREEN shirts/ hoodies.
They are on campus every day hosting walkabout games, where they dispense info by playing a games and giving away really cool free prizes. Every Wednesday they host Wellness Wednesday at both Keele and Glendon so if you have a question or you just want to play a game and win a prize walk up to the table and check them out!
If you want to drop by and talk to someone feel free to visit the Health Ed office South Ross 171. If you want to get in contact with them you can e-mail them healthed@yorku.ca or check out their AMAZING blog www.healthedyorku.tumblr.com or follow them on twitter @healthedyork
I've been a part of Health Ed for 4 years and I can honestly say that they are a great organization with great people. It's good to know that there are people on campus that you can talk to if you need them!
I'm a university student and I work on campus with an organization that does health related outreach for students free of charge.
Today I was on a "walkabout" in a residence.
(walkabout = a game [tic tac toe, jeopardy, correct four etc.] that moves from one place to the next. Players have to answer a question to win a piece and then they have to complete their game [tic tac toe, jeopardy or connect four] to win the game.)
We were playing with these Sex and Alcohol Tic Tac Toe with these two girls and they were stumped on a question. They were going back and forth, G1: "True! No False...True, False True False." G2: "Pick one already True or False?" G1: "I just don't know! I need some help!"
Then All of a sudden a voice from above said "TRUE!" All of us looked around, we didn't see anyone but someone had said something
"We all heard that right? It's not just me?" I asked.
"Nope I definetly heard that too," Said one of the girls
"Me to!" Said my co-worker.
"Well, you know who it was then," I said. They all looked at me puzzled.
"Who?" they asked in unison.
"God! What else would you call a voice from above, and I always KNEW God was a woman!"
It was definitely the MOST FUN walkabout I've been on in a while!
For those of you wondering it was simply the girls upstairs neighbour that called down the answer and went into her room. It wasn't actually God but it was just so funny to think that maybe God wanted to help these girls out with their question. Ironically the girls decided not to take "God's" advice and got the question wrong in the end but it was still good fun for all of us.
I'm sure that we won't forget the walkabout with divine intervention any time soon!
This is a unique REDZone blog. These words are my own, I write about my life, my experiences and my interactions in real life at York University. Hope you like it!
-Nicole
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