Depression Among College Students the Impact of a Simple Care Package

Depression among college students is on the rise. For many college students, being away at school isnt easy. Often, they are subjected to incredible amounts of stress, arent getting enough sleep, and might not be eating right. And, on top of that, they may also be very lonely.Its hard to imagine your child feeling lonely, especially when they are going to classes and living in dorms. But just because they are surrounded by people, that doesnt mean they have forged meaningful connections.Depression in College StudentsThe college experience is often your childs first trip out into the world alone, and that is a serious adjustment. In fact, the magnitude of the change can lead to an increased risk for depression (a much higher risk that the average, based on some studies), regardless of whether they have struggled with it in the past or not.Understanding Depression Among College StudentsDepression is a mood disorder. While it is fairly common, it is always a serious condition. Depressio n has the ability to affect how your child thinks and feels, and can have a significant impact on their daily lives. It can be harder to focus, making studying incredibly difficult, and has the potential to affect their academic and social lives, as well as their job and even their diet and sleep.It is important to note that depression doesnt affect everyone in the same way, so, if your child is battling depression, there is no guarantee that those specific life areas will be affected.Signs and SymptomsThe signs and symptoms of depression vary from one individual to the next. However, there are things you can look out for to make sure your child is adjusting well to college life.According to the National Institute of Mental Health, some of the more common symptoms include an unshakeable feeling of sadness or hopelessness. There can also be feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or a generally pessimistic perspective on life. It is also common to see them withdrawing from activities they previously enjoyed, such as hobbies or fitness activities. This can be coupled with decreased energy or fatigue.Some people dealing with depression are more irritable, and may even seem angry and aggressive. Depression can also lead to physical symptoms, such as aches, pains, headaches, and digestive issues.There are many other ways for depression to manifest, so it is important to note any changes in your childs personality or activities as these could be signs of depression.What You Can DoIf you suspect your child may be depressed, it is important to take action. Often, even severe cases of depression can be treated. Seeking out the assistance of an appropriate medical professional can help them explore their options based on the severity of their symptoms and potential root causes.As a parent, you can also make sure to extend your support during this challenging time in your college students life. Make sure they know you are available if they need someone to talk to, and that you care about them deeply.If possible, try to encourage them to be active, as exercise can be an effective way to manage the symptoms of depression. Also, make sure they are setting realistic goals for their college experience. Remind them not to intentionally isolate themselves, as this can make depression more challenging to manage. While you might not be able to do anything about the activities that make up their day-to-day, there are things you can do to make sure they know you are there for them and are willing to offer support.One of the easiest things you can do is to create a care package.Why a Care Package?Care packages can serve a lot of functions. First, they are a demonstration that your child was on your mind. Second, they show that you wanted to do something to brighten their day. And third, they can be sent for any occasion. So while we mention they can help if your child is feeling depressed, that is not the only time you can send one!A care package can serve as a plea sant surprise, especially when they are sent for no particular occasion. It also lets them know that their parents havent forgotten about them (like you ever could!) when they are feeling disconnected from the ones they love during one of the most stressful times in their young lives.Some other times you can send your college student a care package are:Before a big exam or exam weekBirthdaysHolidaysLong weekendsAs a celebration for a good test score or achieving something they set their mind to (i.e. being selected as President of a club or joining a new organization)After a breakupWhen they simply miss homeWhat it comes down to, is a care package is a symbol that lets them know you care. And sometimes even the smallest gestures can be very reassuring during times of change.How to Create a Care PackageCreating a care package is actually loads of fun! Why you may ask. Because it gives you an opportunity to acknowledge all of your childs idiosyncrasies that you love and creates an exc ellent opportunity to be a little silly while still doing something incredibly meaningful.There are a lot of ways to go about creating a care package. You can choose a selection of some of their favorite treats, pick a theme and use it as a guide, or help them prepare for an upcoming change, like a shift in seasons. Really, the options for creating a care package are endless, and they can be done even if you have very little time and a tiny budget.To help you get some ideas, here are some of our favorite approaches for curating a care package.The Dollar Store RunFor the care package creator on a budget, consider making a run to the dollar store and seeing how far your money can go!Dollar stores are full of funny, quirky, and silly items, as well as some basics that can be very useful. So, take a trip through the aisles and see what inspires you.For example, many dollar stores have greeting card sections, so choose either a blank card or something in the Thinking of You category. Mak e sure it has room to add a personalized message so that you can say something directly to your college student along with the box of treats and trinkets.You can also add something unexpected, like some glow stick bracelets or bottles of bubbles (try not to smile when you are blowing bubbles, I dare you!), and mix in some useful items like pens and pencils with fun designs or unique colors.Otherwise, see what catches your attention and add it to the cart. Hey, each item is only a dollar, so feel free to have some fun!You Forgot These!This is a care package about function that can also be fun. Often, the foundation of this box involves covering certain basics, like toiletries and socks (do you really think your college student is running to the store for new socks? Probably not!). Even though the contents arent exciting by nature, that doesnt mean you cant inject some personality.Pick items in their favorite colors, scents or flavors. Throw in some designed especially for comfort or stress relief, like roll-on headache relief aromatherapy, a funny or motivational stress ball, or some fuzzy slippers. And feel free to add a candy treat or two for those times when chocolate is truly the only answer.Entertainment GaloreSometimes, the simple gift of entertainment can help make the day feel more manageable and can make for an excellent care package theme. Start with a copy of their favorite movie (if they have access to a Blu-Ray or DVD player) or a gift card for a digital download service like Vudu. And make sure to include some treats for the movie for good measure!Then, add a gift card for a restaurant near your childs campus (because sometimes its good to just get off campus) and make sure there is enough money available so they can invite a friend out without anyone having to sweat the bill, and tuck it into a greeting card with a note telling them to take a night off and get some good eats.You Are My SunshineNow, this isnt necessarily a sentiment you have to ar ticulate. Instead, you can imply it with the clever, and abundant, use of the color yellow. Thats right! Fill the box to the brim with anything that screams yellow. Then, when they open the box, they will get the message through the color alone.But why yellow? Because it is traditionally associated with happiness. So, unless you know your child hates yellow, then consider it a great option for bringing a smile.When Do I Send It?So, now that you have the care package boxed and ready to go, whens the best time to send it? Actually, the answer is simple.SEND IT NOW!You dont have to wait for a special occasion to show your college student you care. In fact, by sending it for no particular reason at all, it might make a bigger impact.So, pack it into the care, head to the local post office or shipping center, and get that sucker in the mail. Then, just sit back and wait for the phone call that lets you know it arrived.And, once that one has reached its destination, you can start planning for your next one. Because it is always the right time to brighten your childs day.Have you sent a care package before? Was it for something we didnt mention? If so, comment below to share your ideas on what to include and when to send it!

Students at Hult Shanghai get insight into Opples success

The Corporate Relations  team at Hult Shanghai took students to  visit to  Opple Lighting in Suzhou, a hot-spot city just an  hour away from Shanghai. Opple is a pre-IPO  lighting company that attracted many executives  from its multinational competitors and its market  share in China has exceeded Philips Lighting  (China). Frank Ding, Production Director of Opple, gave a presentation and a tour of the factory to the  students. Ding gave our  Hultians insights into how the company has achieved such staggering success in less than 15 years. Opple  are now marching into the global  market and hiring globally in Brazil, the Netherlands,  South Africa, and India. Opple’s recent growth has not only come  domestically, but also internationally – with sales and  services now offered in over 50 countries worldwide.  This is due not only to the demand for their high-quality products but also to the company’s strong  commitment to research and development.   Because  of Opple’s emphasis on innovation, they have been  able to stay at the forefront during the global switch  to affordable LED technology. Students at Hult Shanghai can  join us on the next company visit to Opples state-of-the-art factory in Suzhou to find out more about this inspiring company and the global opportunities available there. Kickstart your career in the commercial center of Asia by studying at Hults Shanghai business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog Hult Shanghai students get a lesson in luxury at Salvatore Ferragamo. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Related posts Academics Beyond (narrow) business concepts: â€Å"Soft† skills turn out to be critical skills News Building success: Dual Degree students win at USASBE Community How going beyond business at Hult helped me launch my company Admissions Accepted Students Weekend: A weekend to remember Careers Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years 0 Thought leadership How to prepare for an uncertain future in a world of AI Instagram Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .