Hey Have you Heard about Health Ed?

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!!

Nicole

Developing a Career Path

Which way to go?

Coming into first year you might have a lot of ideas about what you THINK you'll do when you graduate. As you move from one year to the next you might find that your vision of future career may shift a little. In my case my career path shifted A LOT and by the time I reached my final year I was in a completely different place than when I started.


People always say that university is the best time of your life, that this is the time that you learn about yourself and who you are, and when you develop into the person you'll be for the rest of your life.Coming out of high school you might be wondering... "How do I turn my interests into a job?" Today I'm going to talk a little bit about how you can use your time at university to help you develop a career path for yourself.

1. Get Involved

Develop your Career
Path!

 --It can be easy for students to fall into the commuter trap, that is only attending classes and then going straight home. Falling into this trap can make it difficult for you to find out where your interests lie and connecting with your fellow students. Join a club, student organization or college council can be a great way to connect with the York community and learn about where your strengths and interests lie. Being a part of clubs helped me to learn that I am really passionate about education, and health promotion.
This has translated into me learning that I want a career that allows me to help others and be an advocate for equal access to education and health services.

2. Use the Services

They're FREE
so USE THEM!

--Developing a Career Path can be daunting even for the most self confident among us. That's why I can't recommend the Career Centre strongly enough! For me personally I think they're one of the best
most under used service on campus!  The Career Centre can help you career counseling, resume building, interview skills and so much more...all FOR FREE!! I don't know about you but if something is free I'm that much more interested in using it, and when it's a service that helps me get ready for the 'real world'  I'm even more interested in using it. I'm not going to lie to you, it can be difficult trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, but you're not alone there are people that are here to help you!



3. Put yourself out there!

Go out on a limb and
see what happens!

-- This might be the most important tip I have to give you!! It's easy to keep to yourself, it's easy to stick to a routine you're comfortable with and it is easy to never challenge yourself, but if you want to get the most you possibly can out of your life then you have to put yourself out there and try new things. I'm not saying that you have go sky diving or run with the bulls, what I'm saying is be willing to try things that you have never done before. Try going to Frosh week, try joining a club, try taking up a new sport,
try something that pushes you outside of your comfort zone. You might find that you learn about about yourself, develop some new skills and make some amazing friends and life long memories! Who knows you might do something that leds you to a job, or a new path for your life!

Figuring out what you want to do with your life is not an easy decision, it requires a lot of thought, soul searching and in some cases a little help from your friends. I hope that this will inspire you to try a lot of different things during your time here at York so you can begin to figure out what you want to do with your life after university!

Good Luck and as always, remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

First Year Road Map: Charter Your Course

I'm not the best at directions, I'm always getting lost! My GPS is constantly "recalculating" since I

always seen to fail at going in the right direction.

This was especially true when I first started here at York. I got lost, hopelessly lost in the sauce here on campus. 60,000 students means that the chance of getting lost are even greater. Have no fear though, I'm here for you! Here's my roadmap for your first year. This is the absolute minimum you'll need to know to navigate York in your first year.


North to Find Answers
1. ASK QUESTIONS!!
--If you sort of know, think you might know or have NO CLUE at all about what's going on...ASK! There's no shortage of people that are there to help you; your faculty/ department, advising offices and past students are great resources to help when you're lost at your enrolment appointments or academically once you get started in the fall. If you're lost and don't ask questions then no one can help you find your way. Don't be afraid people are a lot more friendly on
campus then you might think. Take that leap and ask your questions, I can almost guarantee that if you have a question then there will be at least 2-3 other people sitting in your enrolment appointment or lecture with the same question. So be brave and ask away!

South to Services
2. Use the free services to stay on top of your work.
--There's SOO much that York offers to ALL students to help them adjust and succeed at university! Take advantage of the FREE services like the learning skills workshops, I'm not embarrassed to say
that my note taking skills were not the greatest in my first year. After my first midterms I KNEW I had to turn it around and so I took pretty much all of the skills workshops and learned how to take notes in class, how to write a strong thesis for university and how to structure my work to get my point across!

West to Withdraw Information
3. Visit the RED Zone for any and everything you need to know about YorkU.
--Here at The RED Zone it's our job and our passion to answer any and all questions you might have regarding life here at York. So if you're ever lost or unsure feel free to ask us just about anything. We might not be able to tell you the meaning of life... but we can help you figure out how to make your life
at York meaningful for you (We also give directions so if you're literally lost come and ask us how to find your classes :D)!!

East to Establish Connections
4. Get involved
--It might seem a little overwhelming to get involved in a community the size of York's but I promise it will be worth the risk you take in putting yourself out there! Getting involved can be as simple as joining a club and attending a couple of the events they host throughout the year. If you visit the RED
Zone this summer then you'll be signed up for YU Connect, York's social media hub. There you're able to browse through all of the clubs that we have. When to visit the RED Zone you join the York is U organization, which hosts TONS on events throughout the school year that are ideal for first years to volunteer for since the commitment level is what you make of it. With York is U, you can volunteer for a few hours at a single event all the way to coordinating entire events, it's really up to you! I can't tell you how important getting involved is on campus, it really means all the difference between surviving at York and thriving at York!

I hope that you can find some way to use my roadmap in your first year. Just know that whenever you feel alone or lost you always have someone there to support you. York is all about student success, so if you need help with anything feel free to stop by and visit the RED Zone either in person in Vari Hall or online!

Also if you have any questions about what I've mentioned in this post feel free to comment below!

Until next time, remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the zone!

Nicole

Wanna get ACTIVE this New Year? I've got the scoop!!

This month an on going theme for my blog is self-improvement! So far I've talked about setting realistic goals and some free workshops you can use to improve yourself as a student.

Now that I've discussed how to get your mind in shape, I'm going to talk a little about how to get your body in shape in the new year!

Every New Year people seem to become really conscious about their health. Everyone seems to RUN out and buy a gym membership, use it for a few weeks but by the time March rolls around the gym trips have ended and all of a sudden health isn't on your mind.

I'm here to tell you that you CAN stick to your health goals without having to buy expensive gym memberships, and without losing motivation a few weeks later. A lot of times people lose momentum with their health related goals because they are trying to achieve these goals alone. When you have no one to be accountable to it is very easy to give up on goals.

How can we avoid this?? Well I would recommend getting involved with health related clubs and programs on campus. They provide you with a safe place to get active and community of people to keep you motivated and on track (pun TOTALLY intended!) with your goals.

So, WHAT can you do on-campus to get active?!?

1. Check out Tait McKensize Gym.
--I know what I just said about getting gym memberships, BUTTT in this case the Tait McKensize gym  is only $15 for a full calendar year! That's a GREAT deal for students!! Also at the gym you have access to all the field houses, the courts and pool. Plus there are tons of classes you can take (for an extra fee) if you have a particular interest. Check out their website for more info here.

2. Running Relief - Toronto Track and Field Centre
--I've talked about Running Relief in past blog posts like this one . So feel free to read that post for more information. The reason I bring it up here is that, this program provides runners with a community, a group of people that will support them as they attempt to achieve their health goals. Best part of this program?? IT'S COMPLETELY FREE!!! So you really have NOTHING to lose and EVERYTHING to gain!!

3. Intramurals
--A lot of times people forget that playing games can be a form of exercise, in some ways games are the best form of exercise because you don't even realize that you're working out! Each college runs intramurals for their students, check out some basic info about Intramurals here. Wanna get involved? Contact the athletics rep on your college council to sign up. They are a GREAT way to meet new people, make friends and get active!

4. The Active Living Challenge
--This is a great opportunity to get started with your health goals and stay motivated. Check out the latest episode of RED Zone TV to find out more about the Active Living Challenge.

I don't know about you but I LOVE prizes and so sticking to my health goals and getting rewarded for it seems like a win-win to me!

Hopefully you'll find a way to get active in this New Year. I wish you all the very best with your goals whatever they may be. Let me know if you decide to try anything I mentioned here, by commenting in the comments section below!

Until next time, remember, take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

Fall Semester Winding Down...But You're Getting Wound Up?

I can't believe it the Fall semester is winding almost over. Literally there are only like 2 full weeks left in Fall 2012. What does that mean for you? That means getting yourself prepared for the RAPIDLY approaching exam period. You might be wondering how to start getting ready for your upcoming exams.


Well Well WEEELLL that's what I'm here for!! Here are my top 3 ways to get ready for exam period.



1. Make a LIST of all your exams, how much they're worth and WHEN THEY ARE!
--Now that our exam schedule is out be sure to check it to make sure that you know when your exams are scheduled. Since classes end on Dec 3rd you probably won't be having your exam during your regular class time. So be sure to check the website.

All nighter = Not the BEST!

*TIP* I always sign in and have the system tell me when my exams are happening by clicking "My Exam Schedule" in the grey column on the left hand side of the page. Be sure to keep checking this site as your exam draws closer, since they can change the location or time WITHOUT giving you notice. And it would SUCK if you missed your exam because you didn't check the site!!

2. Make a Study Plan

Sample Study Plan

--Now that you have your list of your exam, you'll be able to determine how much time you have to prepare for each exam. So the next step to take would be to make a DETAILED study plan and try your best to stick to it!! What does a study plan look like? Well take a look at my sample study plan!!

*TIP* Try your best to make a study plan that includes breaks and "down time" you don't want to burn out when studying. All nighters are not the best idea so try your best to avoid them by STARTING EARLY!!

3. DISCONNECT
--Today we are more connected than ever! Almost everyone has a cell phone, or a laptop. WIFI is an IMPORTANT part of our lives and it can be really difficult to turn off these devices to allow yourself the time you need to study. So TURN IT OFF! Let your friends and family know that you won't be around for a few weeks while you prepare for exams. I promise if they care about you and your education they will understand!

*TIP* Whenever I'm about to have a good ole fashion study session I use a Mac app called Self Control. This blocks your computer from accessing various social media sites for a specific amount of time. So I turn it on for the duration of my study block. This also helps you in timing your study times.

Those are my top 3 ways to prep for exam period. Check back with me next week...I'll be talking about how to make the most of your study sessions in The Scott Library.

Until then...REMEMBER to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!!

Nicole

What makes a "successful" student?? It might NOT be what you think!

These days everyone looks at letter grades or a g.p.a. as the only way to measure the "success" of a student. Of course both of these are really important, after all everyone wants to do well, but grades are only one small part of what makes a student succeed at university and at life.

I LOVE this meme!
 He looks so satisfied!

I know what you're thinking...how else can you measure the success of a student if you don't use letter grades or a g.p.a?

Grades aren't EVERYTHING!

I would challenge you to think outside the box a little bit.

Here are a few things that I think make a successful student:

1. I think that a successful student is able to find balance in their life.

Universal symbol for BALANCE!
Yin and Yang

Balance is everything! Knowing your limitations and understanding that you're not superman will help reduce your stress. Accepting that there are only 168 hours in a week will help you learn to prioritize your time. Learning how to effectively balance work, school, family and friends, will make your university experience richer.








2. A successful student should be able to look back on their university experience with pride and a sense of accomplishment.

Key to Success?
Why YES thank-you!

This can be achieved by getting involved on campus. I know you've heard me say this before...but that's because it's GOOD ADVICE! Get involved in campus life!

Becoming a member of the York community made my university experience so much richer. I was able to avoid the commuter trap (going to school and then straight home), I was able to give back to other students and I was able to make friends! Accomplishing something as a result of your involvement on campus really makes you feel like you've succeeded at university life.

3. Finally I think that a successful student is someone that is open minded and willing to try NEW things.

University is your opportunity to try new things, and have new experiences. Successful students are those that open themselves up to new people, cultures, beliefs and practices. York is FULL of diversity, there are students from over 155 countries worldwide. There are so many different people with interesting and unique experiences sitting next to you in class, it would be a shame not to get to know them. Being open to meeting new people and trying new things will help to prepare you for the real world, which, thanks to globalization is becoming increasingly interconnected, so don't miss out!

These are just a few things that I think make a successful a student. If you can think of anything else feel free to make suggestions in the comments section!