Navigating the winter blues: Building support, connection and resilience

By Zachary Irish, Ed.D., dean of students and Ashley Noyes, assistant dean of students

It is bitterly cold, and the wind is whipping across the Dimple. Students clutch their coats as they walk to the Balfour-Hood Campus Center, excited to reconnect with friends but also anxious about their upcoming coursework. It is move-in day in January and the start of a new semester. 

Those same activities that greeted them on a warm day in August have moved inside for the winter months. Although the excitement for a fresh start remains, it can feel very different returning from Winter Break with no sign of spring in sight. As such, we wanted to highlight how to support your student through the winter blues as they prepare for the spring semester.  

Whether your student is in their first year, still trying to find their place on campus, or a senior who is worried about what happens after May 16, this is a critical time to keep motivated and stay connected. 

Let’s use this information to collaborate and coach our students through this traditionally challenging time.

From opportunities to engage in leadership roles and social connections, we remind students to focus on their growth and personal self-care while engaging the supportive Wheaton community as a tool for a resilient semester.

Opportunities to Engage

There is a lot of programming taking place in the residence halls and around campus, including dance shows and athletic contests. In addition to the smaller programs sponsored by the Resident Advisors and clubs around campus, there are several other events that we would encourage your student to attend. The Dance Fest in February and the spring theater production in April are great events to look forward to. It is also wonderful to see students cheering on their classmates on the basketball court or in the pool. Encourage your student to step out of their comfort zone and have fun at these college-sponsored events. They can view upcoming programs at https://engage.wheatoncollege.edu/ and https://wheatoncollegelyons.com/.

Leadership Opportunities

Additionally, this is the time of year for students to consider their interest in campus leadership roles. In February, several offices come together to highlight leadership jobs available for the summer and fall semester, including but not limited to: 

  • Resident Advisor
  • Orientation Leader
  • Peer Academic Advisor or Career Peer Advisor 
  • Building Managers  

These application and interview processes happen throughout the spring semester. Additionally, elections will be held for next year’s student leaders. Clubs will manage on their own timelines, but the Student Government Association offers opportunities for students to represent their classmates in a critical role on campus. The SGA elections are typically held in March. Encourage your student to reach out to the Office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership (SAIL) with any questions. 

Intentional Social Opportunities and Identifying a Third Space

It isn’t as easy as joining a walk around campus, jumping into an ultimate frisbee game on Chapel Field, or hanging out on the Dimple, but there are plenty of opportunities to engage on campus; it just requires a little bit more intentionality. The campus is also small enough that it doesn’t take a lot of planning to have a group of friends get together to watch a movie in Conger Commons, study together in the Library, or enjoy conversation over food in Chase Commons.  Encourage your student to build time for intentional opportunities with their friends and connections. For students who are struggling to make connections, encourage your student to visit the common hangout spaces on campus, including but not limited to Chase Commons, Conger Commons, Emerson Dining, and the Library. On those really cold nights, we have also seen students get really creative and connect virtually, even if they are only a few buildings away from each other. This allows you to hang out in the comfort of your own room but feel like someone is there with you.  

We have highlighted a few hangout places on campus in the above sections, but it is critical to identify a third space. A recent article from Boston University commented on this struggling concept given the increase in social media and lack of community infrastructure following the COVID-19 pandemic. At Wheaton, we pride ourselves on our community and the opportunities to gather. Encourage your student to explore these different spaces around campus to see what might work for them and their social circle. Some spaces that are not their room and the classroom where students can socialize are: 

  • Conger Commons, located in Pine Hall, provides soft seating and a television equipped with technology for laptops and game systems, as well as larger tables for group study sessions, meals and other activities. 
  • Balfour-Hood Campus Center, located in the middle of campus, is home to the Office of Residential Life, SAIL, the mailroom, the bookstore, the dance studio, and the Fitness Center. It also provides access to a variety of different third space options for students. Students can enjoy a group conversation at the tables and chairs in the Hood Cafe area, where they also have access to the smart dining machines. Other spaces, such as the 1960 Room and New Yellow Parlor, offer larger tables for group projects and meetings, while the Balfour Atrium, Commuter Lounge, and Club Hub provide a more informal setting with a collection of tables and chairs, as well as soft seating. 
  • Diana Davis Spencer Café, located in the Mars Center for Science and Technology, provides a collection of soft seating as well as tables and chairs that encourage group conversation. Additionally, students have access to smart dining machines in this space. 
  • Emerson Dining Hall, located in Emerson, includes the 1834 Grill, Starbucks, and smart dining machines, and provides a setting of larger tables and chairs that encourage group conversation.
  • Kollett Hall is home to the Filene Center for Academic Success and the Life and Career Design Institute, which provides ample open space for individual and group work. With a combination of soft seating and tables, this area also hosts different career planning programs and tutoring.
  • Madeline Wallace Clark Library provides a variety of options from individual desks and study rooms to larger tables and rooms for group study sessions and conversation. 
  • The Marshall Center, located in the base of the Cole Memorial Chapel, provides a larger meeting space with soft seating for students to have individual or group conversations.  

In addition to the opportunities to connect on campus, there is also a lot to do off-campus, including but not limited to ice skating at Patriot Place, seeing a movie in North Attleboro, or taking an adventure into Boston or Providence via the Commuter Rail station in Mansfield. 

Personal Self-Care

Feelings of isolation can lead to a lack of motivation and self-care. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of self-care during these winter months. Self-care and healthy coping skills can include:

  • Sticking to an exercise plan, 
  • Eating and staying hydrated appropriately, as well as practicing good hygiene.
  • Creating a routine, balancing time for academics and socializing 
  • Getting good sleep 
  • Practicing mindfulness and/or journaling 
  • Listening to music
  • Focusing on what you can and cannot control 

Additionally, it is important to recognize the mental and physical health resources available to your student. Students can access the Counseling Center during business hours for short-term solution-based therapy or for case management to get connected with an off-campus therapist or provider for longer-term care. Additionally, students have access to the 24/7 mental health support line at the same phone number as the Counseling Center. Counseling services must be student-initiated. Students also have access to Student Health Services available at Sturdy Primary Care Norton, located at 14 Taunton Ave., on campus. Students must call ahead for an appointment. Additional off-campus health services options are listed at https://wheatoncollege.edu/campus-life/student-health-and-counseling/student-health-services/.

Supportive Community  

As we discuss every year at Family Orientation, we want to partner with you for your student’s success. We hope the information above is helpful in continuing to coach your student through their college experience. The beginning of the spring semester is an exciting time for all of our students, but it is especially bittersweet for our seniors who realize that it is their last semester at Wheaton. Remind your students of all of the campus resources available to them. We are all here for the same reason: to support your student!
   
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions. We look forward to a great spring semester.