“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”-Anne Lamott
By. N. Gonzalez
Students at CSI were encouraged to take charge of their mental and physical well-being and were taught strategies for self-care and self-advocacy during a workshop led by grad student and MSW intern Edin Bardic on Tuesday afternoon, March 18, 2025.
“What’s something that you have done for yourself lately,” said Bardic. “That has helped you feel more balanced?”
Bardic started the workshop with an icebreaker to get CSI students thinking. At first, students were nervous but came to the realization that many couldn’t think of what they had done for themselves recently. However, one undergraduate student, Diego Guzman, decided to try to answer and asked:
“Well, would this count as self-care,” said Guzman. “I went to the gym to work some stress out.”
Bardic stated that it does apply and explained that self-care can be so many different activities, such as working out, going on a walk, eating a healthy snack, or simply taking a moment to breathe.
“When I notice that I start to switch between different tabs while working,” said Bardic. “It’s a sign of burnout that can lead to doom-scrolling.”
Most students began to notice that, especially around this time of year, they are so focused on midterms and assignments that they overload themselves and forget about self-care.
College burnout develops when a student experiences chronic stress over an extended period. These students may develop burnout symptoms, including fatigue, detachment, and an overall lack of interest in academics.
Burnout among college students is more common than people think. According to the National College Health Assessment, 80% of college students reported feeling overwhelmed, and 40% reported that it was difficult to function.
CSI has a total student enrollment of 10,736, and with 80% of college students reporting that they feel overwhelmed, this means that approximately 8,589 students at CSI may also be experiencing significant levels of stress and anxiety, according to the National College Health Assessment.
Bardic’s fellow grad student, CRC intern Sharon Liu, was helping with the workshop and gave advice on self-care. She also had a few thoughts, saying:
“Self-care is acknowledging,” said Liu. “Making sure you’re okay and not ending up drowning in stress.”
Another part of the discussion was about self-advocacy. Bardic believes that students should know the importance of advocating for themselves.
“Sometimes it’s hard to ask for an extra day for an assignment or for help,” said Bardic. “But it could really help. Most professors agree to help students—it’s important to advocate for yourself.”
Some students discussed that it is hard to remember to advocate for themselves, as it can make them anxious or feel a lot of pressure. However, they agreed on the importance of self-advocacy in helping with their mental and physical well-being.
This was Bardic’s first time leading a workshop, and he wanted to create a welcoming and supportive space where students could focus on their well-being. His goal was for this workshop to “stand the test of time,” leaving a lasting impact and encouraging ongoing conversations about self-care.
With this event, Bardic aimed to help students shift their focus back to self-care, recognizing how easily it can be overlooked due to the demands of academic life and also just life in general.
By providing a space where they could openly discuss their stressors, he hoped to remind them that taking time for themselves, it could be anything, whether through small moments of rest or doing something that brings joy, that its essential for both their mental and physical well-being.
” We are all humans,” said Liu. “We all are going through hardships, it’s okay to need a second.”
