Hi PLA! I can’t believe I am writing the first PLA blog of my last semester at Penn State! While a lot has changed throughout my time at Penn State, the bi-weekly commitment to write a PLA blog has remained constant.
As we all know, part of the graduation requirements for Penn State is to complete three credits of General Health and Wellness education. In the great wisdom of my two older sisters, they suggested I save that requirement until the end of my college career. They told me that a fun gym class or nutrition class might be exactly what I need at the end of my college career as I am working to graduate and solidify my post-grad plans, and they were certainly right! With everything going on in my life right now between writing my thesis, continuing my internship, taking the last of my courses, networking and applying for post-graduate full-time jobs, and still trying to maintain a healthy social life, I knew that this was the perfect time for a class about wellness. As I scheduled courses for this semester, I had to decide what class to take to meet the GHW credit. I landed on the perfect option: KINES 82, Action Methods for Stress Management.
Although it is only week two, I can already tell that this course is going to provide many great resources to use as a navigate this stressful time in my life and will hopefully put more tools in my toolbox to help me through future stressors. It has provided an opportunity to be intentionally mindful. When I am stressed, I often convince myself that I do not have the time or mental capacity to meditate, journal, and reflect, even though I know their value. This course provides the academic motivation to practice mindfulness even when I am struggling to self-motivate. I am being graded on my efforts to engage in healthy practices! It is a huge win-win!
For underclassmen who are considering taking GHW credits early in your college career, I want to encourage you to take this route. I can’t predict your future, but I think it’s a safe bet that your last semester at Penn State will be the perfect time for a course that allows you to focus on your health and wellbeing.
Happy Spring Semester, PLA-ers!
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