Academics—Managing Finals Stress
Everyone experiences stress – it’s completely normal, especially during midterms and finals. Over the next few weeks, your student will likely be balancing projects, papers, and exams, all while fighting the urge to enjoy the nice weather! Help your student understand that stress is normal and think about how to manage by sharing these strategies:
- Eat extra healthy to provide your body with nutrients that help it function at optimal levels
- Exercise to help your body release pent up energy, relieve tension, and release endorphins natural to your body
- Get plenty of sleep to help restore the body and mind and help you be rested for the day to come
- Make a list or journal to help organize your thoughts and make a plan on how to tackle the projects you have to do
Conversation starters
- How many finals do you have? Are they spread out?
- What methods are you using to manage your time?
- What are you doing for stress relief?
Campus Engagement—Public Market Bus
The City of Rochester Public Market, located in Center City, has served the community since 1905 and offers a huge assortment of fresh seasonal produce direct from area farmers as well as from around the country and world, meats and seafood, eggs and cheese, baked goods and pasta, specialty and prepared foods, dry goods and general merchandise, clothing and jewelry, and much more. The market runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and RIT students can grab the RIT Public Market Bus
on Saturdays to experience this Rochester gem.
Conversation starters
- Have you heard of the Rochester Public Market?
- What are your favorite fresh vegetables and fruits?
- What opportunities do you have to go into Rochester?
Campus Life—Goodbye, Goodbuy!
Every year, RIT students throw out over 100 tons of goods during move-out, which we collect during the end of spring semester. The following fall, incoming students purchase the same items at our yearly sale. The student-led Goodbye, Goodbuy!
initiative prevents usable items from sitting in landfills. As your student moves out this spring, they can leave unwanted items that are still in good condition at collection locations all over the Residence Halls, Global Village, and other locations on campus to be cleaned, stored, and then purchased for reuse by students next fall at thrift store prices. Each year, the program keeps tons of goods out of landfills and provides hundreds of volunteers with a great way to get involved with campus sustainability. All proceeds fund the administration of the program.
Conversation starters
- Do you have any items in your room/apartment that you won’t need next year and can donate?
- Have you considered volunteering with Goodbye, Goodbuy!?
- What will you need for your room/apartment next year that you may be able to purchase at Goodbye, Goodbuy!?
Wellness—Good Samaritan Protocol and Alcohol Safety
RIT wants to ensure that students make responsible and safe decisions, especially as the weather turns warm and some feel the sense of freedom that may lead them to engage in risky behaviors. You, as a parent, can have discussions with your student about responsible and informed consumption while also making sure they are aware of campus resources. Supportive messages about making safe and healthy decisions go further with students than warnings about the dangers of alcohol and drugs; meaningful discussions with parents are valuable and important. Please make sure your student is aware of the Good Samaritan Protocol. This policy encourages students to contact Public Safety, RIT Ambulance, Residence Life staff, or other RIT staff if they notice an individual who has passed out or shows signs of serious effects from alcohol or drug consumption. This policy protects the caller, the person in need of assistance, and any witnesses involved from receiving disciplinary sanctions. This protocol is designed to provide education rather than discipline when a student voluntarily seeks medical assistance related to alcohol or other drugs.
Conversation starters
- How will you decide whether or not to drink when at a party?
- What reasons or excuses can you give your peers if you don't want to drink?
- What will you do if you find yourself at a party with only alcohol to drink?
- What will you do if your roommate or a neighbor passes out from drinking too much?
- How will you get home if the person you rode with is too drunk to drive?
