Growing up as part of Gen Z, mental health has always been a prominent factor in my education. It has always been drilled into our heads that if we need help we should go to therapy and “get better.” But “getting better” isn’t that easy, and isn’t always necessary.

Therapy can come in many different, with many different outcomes. For me, therapy didn’t really work out, and I walked away feeling even worse than when I started, but for my best friend, therapy changed his life for the better.

It is very important to identify why you’re going to therapy, and what brought you to the point of going. For many, myself included, being forced to attend therapy makes an individual less likely to attend willingly, and that unwillingness is what contributes to the failure of the service provided. When a person attends therapy sessions upon their own free will, they are less likely to view attending sessions as a chore, and more likely to take what is being discussed to heart. An individual who does not want to go to therapy, in the same vein, is not as willing to put the effort into sessions in order to come to a solution.

There are also many different reasons to go to therapy, the majority of the time people go to hopefully improve their own mental health, other times people go to fix their relationships, or to better themselves for others.

So, is therapy always the best option? Well, it would really have to depend on a person. As with anything else, what works for one person, may not work for another, and that is perfectly okay. Just like the same workout routine will not yield the same results for two different people, neither will two mental health solutions, and there are plenty of options outside of therapy.

For some people, therapy isn’t about being helped, it’s about finding resources that teach you how to help yourself. Many therapists focus on helping their clients come up with solutions to their problems that they can implement outside of their individual sessions, such as breathing exercises or even phrases/verses to help in times of stress.

Gen Z is 27% more likely than any other generation to report their mental health as poor or fair, and Gen
Z is far more likely to be open about their mental health struggles than any other generation (American Psychological Association).

Even when going willingly, one of the most difficult things about therapy is finding a therapist you can trust and rely on. It is important to build a relationship so they can give you the proper care and come up with a treatment plan that is specific to your personal needs and issues.

There are hundreds of resources online and even within the university that can help you find the right therapist for you and your needs. With the ever improving digital age, therapy resources can even be completely over the internet, over video calls. However, just like classes over Zoom do not work for everyone, virtual therapy sessions may hold the same effect on an individual, and both may work best for another person. It is very important to find what form works best for you.

Again, therapy may not be for everyone, for me personally, I found that meditation and just actively working to improve my environment worked better for me than therapy ever did. Some people may find the same solution after going to therapy and working out a similar plan. Therapy isn’t for everyone, and that is okay.

You will be okay.

Karissa Maccentelli is a senior at Eastern majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Forensic Chemistry. She is a part of a 4-in-1 program with Temple University to obtain her PSM in Forensic Chemistry. She is known around campus for her involvement in various clubs and organizations.

Originally from Bel Air, Maryland, Maccentelli chose Eastern for its beautiful campus and atmosphere. She knew she wanted to live on a small campus, and appreciated the Christian aspect that Eastern had to offer. Eastern being relatively close to her home was definitely a plus.

Maccentelli is heavily involved in the arts at Eastern, and was even the stage manager in what would have been Eastern’s spring production of Little Women before it was cancelled. She takes on many roles and responsibilities in the theater department, from acting, stage managing, and tech crew.

Maccentelli had an opportunity to perform in a student written/directed show in the Performing Arts Living Room a few years back and loved the experience. Although she enjoys taking on many theatrical roles, Maccentelli says her favorite part is the backstage aspects and making sure everything is in order. “I like getting to know the actors a little deeper and being the resource for them to come to for help” Maccentelli said.

Outside of the theater department, Maccentelli is also a member of the art club, and enjoys all forms of expression through her artistic endeavors. Around campus, most of Maccentelli’s favorite moments have been courtesy of the SAB, or Student Activities Board. Maccentelli, a former ice hockey player, especially enjoyed skating night so she could “skate circles around everyone.”

Some of Maccentelli’s favorite days each year are move-in days, especially as a former student chaplain. She enjoys getting to know new people and helping with move-in.

Maccentelli is the vice president of Refuge, Eastern’s LGBTQ+ and ally club. “I like being an advocate for people who don’t have a voice,” Maccentelli said. She began her journey as an ally in her high school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club and knew it was something she wanted to continue to be a part of through her college career.

Maccentelli is not afraid to have the difficult conversations that are sometimes needed when discussing equality for those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Maccentelli appreciates the way that Refuge incorporates Eastern’s motto of “Faith, Reason, and Justice” into everything they do, and uses the message to help give justice to those who may need it.

“I like seeing justice be served, and I like being an activist and talking about issues in the community,” Maccentelli said. “[Equality for the LGBTQ+ community] is a hard issue that nobody wants to talk about.”

Maccentelli is accompanied on campus by her Emotional Support Animal, a cat named Sasha.

Beginning a new school year in a new place can be scary for anyone, especially for college freshmen just leaving home for the first time ever. Now imagine adding a global pandemic into the mix.

Despite tension surrounding Covid-19, orientation leaders, alongside assistant dean of Resident and Student Life, Ben Howard, put in the effort to maintain and organize a smooth and fun orientation weekend for all.

The online activities were organized by Howard while the in-person activities were organized by the
orientation leaders and the Student Activities Board.

The New Student Orientation (NSO) program is only in the beginning of it’s second year at Eastern, which allowed more room for leniency when Howard and orientation leaders were planning out how Orientation Weekend would go.

Orientation leaders arrived to campus on Aug. 15 to attended a series of training that included diversity
training, Title IX training, training on how to handle conflicts, and workshopping different ice breakers to
use within their individual groups.

Orientation leaders were each in charge of individual ice breakers used within groups. They each wore shirts that said “We put the Social in Social Distancing”.

Senior Karissa Maccentelli participated as an orientation leader for her second year in a row. This year, she ran orientation group 12 alongside Taeylor Tucker.

Maccentelli’s group was very engaged, “they wanted to show up and it gave me a lot of energy to know that they also had energy,” said Maccentelli.

The weekend technically started on Wednesday, the first day of move-in. Freshman that moved in Wednesday met with their groups starting at 5pm and did small group activities and enjoyed dinner as a group.

The second half of the freshman moved in on Thursday. During the second half of move-in, the students that were already on campus enjoyed various activities such as a games tent, craft tent and optional field activities that were made available. Some of the crafts available were bracelet making, pompom making and rock painting. Many of the rocks made can be found around campus if you look hard enough.

After the second half of freshman moved in, they were able to join their orientation groups on the field and participated in some group activities and attended dinner with their groups.

After dinner Thursday night, two food trucks containing homemade donuts and homemade soft pretzels were available in the parking lot next to the fields. Students were also able to pick up “get to know your roommate kits” put together by the Student Activities Board.

The kits included mini snacks, card games, a list of get to know you questions, pads of paper, mini jenga,
and boggle. The kits were made in different sizes depending on room type.

Friday morning, students were invited to an online webinar regarding possible jobs and internships with
Career Development. In the afternoon, students were given the option to participate in soccer darts and the Skyfall Stunt Jump.

Later Friday night, students got to meet their Faith, Reason, and Justice class during faculty firesides. While most years these firesides are held in person at professor’s house, most firesides were done via Zoom and a few were done at different locations around the campus.

Saturday, students were given the opportunity to combine with other orientation groups and participate
in more activities and games with new groups. Later in the day, the crafts and games tents were made available again for Thursday arrivals to get a chance to enjoy them.

Throughout the day Saturday, many of the upperclassmen were working on moving in themselves, so on Saturday night, all students on campus were given the opportunity to watch the newest Jumanji movie on the turf.

Orientation concluded Sunday morning with a Closing Worship and Commissioning Service over a
campus-wide Zoom meeting.

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