The beginning of the semester brings the stress of new routines, roles, and living situations. Increased workloads, and midterm and graduate school admission tests contribute to midsemester blues, she said. Holiday vacation is another source of stress, for while it is eagerly anticipated by some, it is also the source of anxieties about visiting family members for others. Questions and doubts about one's sexuality, family relationships, and life direction know no season, Newton said. She urged Mills students not to wait for a crisis to use Counseling Center services.
Every student has access to ten free counseling sessions.
Taking advantage of them or dropping in on a workshop encourages reflection which may prevent problems from turning into crises, she said. Senior Barbara Ponze, despite a full-time class load, an ASMC position, looming midterms and an upcoming internship, says that women can support each other by forming study groups or joining groups based on common interests. She attributes her calm to conscious choices she's made about her life based on self-knowledge. Everything from her comfortable clothing to her family support system is the result of conscious action over time, she said. A little perspective helps too.