I remember a keynote speech I attended by the shuttle pilot Story Musgrave. Not only did the astronaut fly six shuttle missions, but Musgrave also trained as a medical doctor and earned three masters degrees in fields ranging from biophysics to literature. He also has worked as a landscape architect, a concept artist with Disney Imagineering, and a professor of design. Keep in mind that Musgrave’s family background is not one that would have predicted such remarkable achievement and fulfillment. His family of origin was rife with abuse and alcoholism, and several of his family members died by suicide. In spite of this, Story Musgrave clearly has lived an inspired life.

Several years ago a friend of mine drew my attention to some music a friend of his had published on Soundcloud. I felt inspired by what I heard. The electronic dance music (EDM) reminded me of music I used to listen to as a young man, albeit with…

Attending college is commonly framed as the be-all, end-all goal after high school. After seemingly endless effort prepping for standardized tests and polishing your personal statements, you’re finally here! You made it! However, the effort you made getting into college doesn’t necessarily prepare you for your life at the University. Here are some helpful tips on how to adjust to your new reality and how to make the most of your time here.

Adjusting to College

1. Increased Personal Freedom and Responsibility. This may be the first time you’re on your own. No longer are there restrictions on what you get to eat or when, when you go to sleep or for how long, how hard you study or how you spend your time overall. This new freedom can be liberating and should be enjoyed; however, it also means that the decisions you make are your responsibility, as well as any consequences that may come from them. Try to be honest with yourself about how much time…

“I am never drinking again!” Have you said that before? Maybe it was the morning after going a bit (or a lot) harder with partying the night before. Maybe your body’s not feeling so great or your Snap story is making you (and everyone else) cringe. Whatever the reason, we sometimes find ourselves in a lightbulb moment of Hmm...maybe I want to get rid of some of the annoying/embarrassing/hurtful things that happen when I drink alcohol.

If you have ever decided that you’d like to cut down on how much you drink, you are not alone. There are many benefits to reducing how much or how often you drink. Even small changes can have a big impact on your physical and mental health. Many people find that they can tweak their alcohol habits and reduce the risk and long-term negative consequences of alcohol, while still enjoying a drink sometimes.    

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offer some helpful guidelines…

A cornerstone to “being well” is understanding what mental health means for each of us. To help students better understand the wide range of mental health concerns that exist, the University Counseling Center’s (UCC) Student Advisory Board (SAB) is hosting the third annual May Mental Health Month at UO.

This year’s mental health awareness month campaign is about change—change for the better. Whether that’s a change in strengthening our mental health, increasing our support systems, or bolstering our coping strategies, we’d like to make significant strides towards building a community of care at UO. Beyond Mental Health Awareness Month, we look forward to engaging, collaborating, and working alongside all of you in our efforts.

The following are a few events that the SAB will be co-sponsoring this month:

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