Thrive @ Cornell

Dear Community,

We've done it: Made it to the last day of classes for the Spring 2022 semester! Pat yourself on the back and think about how far you have come! Give yourself permission to smile and feel good inside. You so deserve it. This week we invite you to take some time to celebrate before you start your study routine for finals. Hang with friends, eat good food, laugh, share stories and memories. Relish in the moments of this week.

In community,

The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health
part of Student and Campus Life at Cornell University

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Slope Day – Cornell’s annual gathering is back in person! This Wednesday is the big day and we want you to have a great time. There are many things to do, such as Slopefest, and food is available throughout the day – including free breakfast.

A few tips to make for the best Slope Day experience:

• Bring your Cornell ID because they will be checked as your enter the slope.
• Your bracelet is your ticket in. If you "lose it" or it "falls off" you won't get a replacement.

• Eat breakfast before you come OR Get FREE Breakfast Sandwiches in front of the Schwartz Center in Collegetown from 7:30am-10:30am.

• Buy food tickets in advance to save time in line.
• Put on sunscreen before you come! There will be sunscreen available inside the gates.
• Travel light! Leave big bags behind.

If you’ve never been to Slope Day before, and want to see what it’s like (or if you just want to re-live a great event), check out this two-minute promo video from the 2016 event.

Alternative Slope Day is an opportunity for folks to get off campus and try something new. The Campus Activities office works with Cornell Outdoor Education to offer free spots to the Hoffman Challenge Course. The ropes course and other activities are all "challenge by choice". Reserve your free ticket here!

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” —Viktor Frankl

Something happens, somebody does or says something. You look at your finals schedule and start to worry, feel anxious and hear your inner voice telling you "I'll never be able to study enough!"

Stop--Breathe Deeply 3times -- Choose your response: make a plan, prioritize and get started. Include time for short restorative breaks, like 10 minutes of getting outside after 1 1/2-2 hours of studying. This is what the Attention Restorative Theory of NatureRx is all about. The part of your brain that is highly focused and working hard when you are studying, needs breaks to recuperate from that intensity. Getting outside and looking at nature relaxes and refreshes that part of your brain, so you are at renewed capacity for next study timeblock (Ohly, et al. 2016).

The Learning Strategies Center has videos and playlists on study skills tips, the student experience at Cornell, preparing for exams, the Cornell Notetaking System, managing your time, and more! Visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqkTCrkU2VwrJILtOSzXL3w/featured

As study period and final exams approach you may notice a friend who may be struggling emotionally and want to help. Remember that being a good friend doesn't come at the expense of your own mental health and well-being. You can listen, empathize, set boundaries and help get your friend to connected to resources that will be able to support their needs so that you can get back to taking care of your needs at this particular time in the semester. The JED Foundation offers the following tips for How to Take Care of Yourself When You're Taking Care of Friends.

Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. ~ Brene Brown

Photo by Karen Hall | San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, Los Banos, California

Subscribe to the Daily Ray of Hope: Receive a "Ray of Hope" every weekday in your inbox consisting of a beautiful nature photo and inspirational quote.

You are invited to participate in Graduate School Book Club June 2022 sessions. All you need to do is read some chapters of the book and join us for a discussion. Learn more about June 2022 books and sessions and register to participate.

The deadline to sign up is May 15.

Facilitators will be in contact by May 20 with more instructions, including details about the section of the book that they want you to read. You will have at least three weeks to read and then come and either 1) have lunch with us (provided) or 2) join us for an online discussion. Those who attend the discussion session will get a free copy of the book to finish at a later time.

May 17, 12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

RSVP by Monday, May 16 at 12:00 p.m.

Join Graduate Student Life Advisor Angela Yantorno or Senior Assistant Dean Janna Lamey for a walk around Cornell's campus. Walks will meet at the Big Red Barn entrance at noon and depart by 12:05 p.m. Optional lunch at 12:45 p.m. Wear walking shoes and dress for the weather!

If you have any questions, please email Angela Yantorno at ajy45@cornell.edu.

Spring is in high gear at Cornell Botanic Gardens and the gardens and natural areas are bursting with blooms. We invite you to enjoy these blooms with a host of upcoming programs to relish the beauty of spring and to refresh you body, mind and spirit.

• Saturday, May 14; 10:00 a.m: Running tour. Learn more
• Monday, May 16; 7:00 p.m: Lecture, "Sustaining Historical Landscapes and their Relevance in the 21st Century." Learn more
• Thursday, May 19; 1:00 p.m: Cultivating Native Plants at Home. Learn more
• Friday, May 20; 12:00 p.m: Mindful Botany Walk. Learn more.
• Saturday, May 21; 10:00 a.m: Garden and Arboretum Hike. Learn more.

While there’s much you can do to take care of yourself, there are many resources available to help support your mental and physical health and well-being.

Please reach out to any of the resources below for information and support, and encourage your friends to do the same.

• Mental Health at Cornell website: mentalhealth.cornell.edu

• Cornell Health: health.cornell.edu

• 24/7 Help: mentalhealth.cornell.edu/247-help