VPA Article 2: October Is A Spooky Month

Hey fam, it’s me again, your friendly neighborhood VPA (ya homeboy Andrew) hitting you with VPA Iron Warrior article numero dos. This article is targeted a bit more towards first-year engineering students, but it could apply to students in any year.

This October is a frightening time. With the 13th falling on a Friday, Halloween, pumpkin smashing ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), and upper/first year ‘Hell Week’, it’s quite a spooky month indeed.

For those of you in first-year, this is your first taste of Waterloo exams. It can be a stressful time and can bring a lot of anxiety with it. I remember how anxious I was doing my first exams.

If you’re feeling stressed out, and want a chance to blow off some steam, EngSoc is running events throughout First Year and Upper Year ‘Hell Week’ to help relieve stress. On the 20th of October, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM we will be running our De-Stress Meditation event in POETS. The directors running the event will be going through a series of calming exercises designed to help calm down and manage stress.

Furthermore, we are continuing to run our weekly events during both exam weeks. These events include our weekly board games nights from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM on Mondays in POETS, and our LGTBQ group EngiQueers meetings, which happen on Tuesday nights from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM in POETS. These events are a great way to blow off some steam, and a fantastic way to meet new people and make friends in the process.

If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, upset, anxious, or just want someone to talk to, please do not hesitate to take advantage of the various mental health resources at your disposal. Engineering MATES, Engineering Counselling in the First Year office (CPH 1320), and Good2Talk are all phenomenal resources available for engineering students. If you’re struggling alone, please don’t feel like there’s no one to talk to, as there’s always someone who cares, and there are resources available for you.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or just want to talk about the co-op process, academics, Smashing Pumpkins (both the Halloween activity, and the band) – please don’t hesitate to contact me at vpacademic.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca, or find me in the Orifice at CPH 1327.