The End of Stress

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Published on May 13, 2015

This week Housatonic is holding an event, “Keep Calm and Study On,” with the main purpose of relieving the stress that many of its students may be feeling during the time of finals. On the very first day of this event, Monday 5-11, I was able to partake and see what it was all about.

Mainly organized by the Community Outreach Department of HCC and an ad-hoc committee, the event aims to provide a relaxing environment that includes anything that might help alleviate the young minds in the first floor of Beacon Hall just underneath the staircase.

The room is kept relatively quiet with only the sound of tranquil classical piano music piercing the air. At one corner they have healthy treats ranging from green Granny Smith apples to Yoplait yogurts. Students sitting at the couches nibble at these foods while peering into their books or studying with others.

A table covered in crayons and markers sits for students to color in mandalas, popularly used in Indian culture and sand art. Just outside the entrance, they offer you a chance to make Mandala stress balls from the simplest of tools, balloons and rubber bands and flowers. It might seem simple, but it appeared fun to those doing it.

It does appear that Housatonic does actually care about the mentality of its students and with events like these aims to help come to a place of calm.

Keep Calm and Study On continues Wednesday, 5-13-15, from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. and from 9-5 p.m. on Thursday, 5-14-15.