Content Warning: This article does talk about the case of sexual assault/rape at Cornell University. Please read with caution and at your own discretion. Mental Health resources can be found on the McDaniel Portal under “Wellness Center.”
As I have been going through the normal paces of a school week so far, like a lot of students I see and talk to, I tend to have the routine after class of:
- Pack up my bag – couldn’t possibly pack up before the class officially ends!
- Thank the professor – I am too polite not to, okay?
- Get to the library and pull out my phone – I really am a twenty-
- Open Instagram or TikTok to see if anyone posted something I might get a laugh out of – probable with my following count of almost two thousand. Yes, it’s probably insane. No, I am not ashamed.
- Mindlessly scroll until I find something – the in-between and after classes doomscroll is very real, to any professors reading this.
However, this week I have found myself seeing a lot of posts on the same, anxiety-producing, trauma reminding, topic of the gang rape that occurred at Cornell University in 2024. For someone who has had multiple SA experiences throughout my educational journey both at my previous institution and in middle school, this brings up a lot of trauma symptoms for me. The question to myself then became: how do I acknowledge that this is a severely heavy topic that brings up a lot for me and take care of myself while also focusing on school and knowing this case and others like it do need to be talked about?
The answer eventually comes back to the thing we have probably all been told about but might not like hearing about for the millionth time;: self-care. I know, it’s annoying and it gets really hecking old at times, but it has saved my a** this week, and I hope that maybe sharing my strategies may help someone else in a similar situation.
- Get off social media – if hearing about this situation on social media is upsetting to you personally and is disrupting your daily life, like it has been for me, try not opening Instagram, TikTok, or whichever app immediately after class. I know it’s like asking us students to not hate on the food at Glar, seemingly impossible, but it is. This is where I say “trust me, bro.”
- Lean on your true friends – I am very lucky to have multiple tried and true best friends who I’ve been able to lean on this week
;, both at McDaniel and not. I also recognize that a lot of people don’t have that. Some people have one absolute best friend who is like a sibling. Others may have a lot of friends but none of them are that sibling-esque best friend. In those cases, lean on that one bestie or “spread the load.” By “spread the load” I mean share parts of your stress with one friend and other parts with another. I am also happy to talk to you about this if needed. Feel free to message me via GroupMe :)
- Do things that make you happy – So yes, usually Instagram and TikTok provide me, and maybe you, joy. But right now, they sure as heck are not, at least for me. Maybe something that makes you happy is throwing or kicking a ball around with some friends. Or maybe, watching your favorite TV series on streaming makes you happy (any fellow Grey’s fans in the crowd?). Ooo, or maybe your favorite sports team is playing or has highlights you can watch!
These are just a few things I have done this week to make myself feel even one percent less stressed. I am not a mental health professional, nor do I claim to be. I am just a girl with a whole bunch of experience with mental health issues. Take care of yourself, friends!