Balance Stress With Self-Love

As the end of the school year approaches there is one thing you must remember— take care of yourself.

pc: Mia Willson

Stress can take damaging effects on our bodies, our minds, and our souls. Trust me, I'd be one to know.

A couple weeks ago I attended a cancer survivor retreat and brought my friend Danielle. Emilee, a friend of mine who I met at a cancer survivor meeting, put on the event. She is doing amazing things! Emilee is a yoga instructor, specializing in yoga techniques that everyone can do. Those who've been through such extreme medical conditions especially need to make sure they're taking care of themselves. I love her saying, "Cancer saved my life." It's the realest thing I've ever heard. I wouldn't be living life the way I do today if it wasn't for embracing that perspective.

pc: Mia Willson

The most influential part of this retreat was being reminded of the importance of self-love. No matter how busy you are, you are your number one priority. Even if that means you only get a few minutes to take a break, relax, or do something you love— you've gotta do it.

Soul Garden— it was so special randomly
picking "I am joy." Growing up in school,
everyone knew me as the shy girl whose been
through a lot. In college I've been able to embrace
who I really am and am happier than ever :) 

When you don't take care of you, that affects everything else in your life. Think of yourself as a soul, an energy that's carrying your body around through everything life has to offer— the good and the bad. No one can ever take care of you like you can take care of yourself.

Yesterday I took a stroll to the beach to relax and soak up the sun. After about an hour, one of my fellow editors texted me asking me to help edit three stories so they could get published.

Even though I was out doing something, I had no problem going home and getting back to work because I had my "me time."


The moral of the story being that we can all do better work when we're happier. Most of the time when we are stressed, in a bad mood, and want to do nothing but sit in the house and escape in our technology—we are forgetting about ourselves.

We all deserve better than that.

Earth Day,  Isla Vista

That is one of the reasons I decided to take my ocean kayaking class. Sometimes we gotta push ourselves to do something that's good for us. Even if it's at 8 am. Even if it means being launched upwards just to fall
back down again.

I'm not kidding.

pc: Mia Willson

I will never forget what happened during my last ocean kayaking class. I have never been so woken up so early in the morning.

My teacher loves to have us surf the waves in our kayaks every single class. He sits there in his single kayak, yells at us to move back in his British accent, and enjoys watching the student kayakers tip over, get soaked in the freezing water, and be taken back to shore. He might as well be chomping away a bag of popcorn.

Last class, an unexpected huge wave started to quickly approach my partner and I. Everyone else in the class was behind us. The wave started to break right in front of us and I stopped paddling in fear. My partner sitting behind me screamed at me to keep paddling. It was one of those "weeeeeeeeeeeee're screwed" either way moments.

pc: Mia Willson

We paddle through the wave, the wave lifts our kayak a couple feet up in the air, and I am airborne—launched another few feet into the air. Gravity takes over and I fall flat on my back RIGHT BACK ONTO THE KAYAK.

.........

I have never laughed so hard at such a terrifying experience.

Everyone else behind us wiped out since they were too far back (except my teacher of course). My partner said she barely got lifted out of her seat and watched me just fly into the air. Can you imagine if she had a GoPro on her? Let's just say it'd be a viral video. If I had one on me, the only thing you'd see is a blue sky! Hahaha

Did it hurt? Not that I could tell. I was too busy laughing until I could laugh no more.

pc: Mia Willson

Another moral to another story—laughter heals. Fun experiences balance out the hard work in our lives.

Now, go on and study— go to work and make that dough. But don't forget about your inner well-being.

Balance is always key.

I See the Light

Whenever I get asked if I'm excited for graduation—I get mixed emotions.

The past couple weeks I wasn't in a good mood at at all. I was extremely overwhelmed and couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel (aka: graduation). Don't get me wrong, I still have so much to do before graduation day, but everything is starting to wrap up.

It's not that I want things to wrap up here at City College or in Santa Barbara, but I'm more ready than ever for the next step in my life. And that's not something that I can do here. Living in Los Angeles will give me the opportunities that I've looked forward to for so long. And I can't wait to be closer to my support system of family and friends. I miss having that around whenever I need it or simply miss the company.



I'm don't know how I handled being a reporter, editor, blogger, and intern all at once. I knew it wouldn't be easy. At the same time, I knew it would be worth it. I cannot wait to update my resume to fit my future journalism career opportunities!

Thank you to Melanie for
giving me the opportunity to
blog for SBCC for all three years!

Last week us SBCC bloggers had our last meeting. I can't believe it. It's the longest job I've had. I've been a blogger during my entire experience at SBCC. I will have around 140 blog posts by the end of the semester—an entire book of memories that I can share with my future kids before they head off to college. I might start a blog of my own as well to continue. It'll be a little more personal and have a wider range of topics.  I'll keep you all up-to-date on that!

On Wednesday, The Channels finished putting together our last budget of assigned stories for the semester. That same day I received back my tax refund after doing my taxes for the first time. Don't even get me started about how much fun I had getting my taxes finished. You can see how happy I was in this picture when I mistakenly thought I was done with my taxes, but I was rejected after submitting it twice. The third time was the charm. After the Ed Board meeting, I also went to the new Campus Store and picked out my cap and gown. Then I got tacos. After that I went to my internship and found out that next week will be my last at TVSB. Still not really sure if it was the tacos or the accomplishments that made me see the light, but it's probably both!

Catch up on my latest stories with The Channels! 

SBCC Trustee VP works towards free college tuition in California

New SBCC Campus Store to officially open next Monday  (photos)

SBCC selected to participate in Guided Pathways Project

State Journalism Convention

I went to the state Journalism Association of Community Colleges convention in Sacramento with a big smile on my face and came back with an even bigger smile.

pc: John Rose

After months of waiting, I found out I was accepted to CSUN the day before I left for the convention. The night the convention ended, I won first place for on-the-spot opinion writing!

And just when I thought life couldn't get any better on the bus ride back as I did absolutely nothing but stare off into the blooming, rolling hills of California—that was basically the only break I had during spring break.

But it was absolutely worth it.

When I found out I was accepted to CSUN, I was checking the online portal like I always did about twice a day. At the same time, I was actually calling my dad—not because I was expecting to get a response from CSUN—but to ask him a question regarding my taxes. As soon as he answered the phone, my CSUN portal page loaded and I could automatically tell that they responded to my application. Freaking out, I scanned through the few big paragraphs on the screen for the word "accepted." I found it and started to tear up in happiness and relief all while my dad was on the phone. I called my best friend Julia right after— we're going to be roommates at CSUN!!!

Now I could fully enjoy my experience at the journalism convention!

I signed up for two contests at the convention which were opinion writing and copy editing. The last night at the convention all of us were dined to a nice dinner right before the award ceremony. We all dressed up for the night and were eager to find out if we won anything. As soon as they started calling names for the opinion writing contest, my heart was racing. As an opinion editor, this meant a lot to me. They worked their way backwards starting with honorable mentions, fourth place through first place. After they called second place, I realized I had to be first or I wouldn't be called. At that point I blocked out my "what if's" and started clapping for whoever won first place—they called my name. I looked at Julia and everyone else from The Channels all looking at me with their jaws wide open. I stood up, realizing that yes, they actually called my name. The clapping and cheering in the room was loud, but my my thoughts were louder. Placing my hand over my heart, I felt as though I was having heart palpitations as I was walking up to the stand. It was like graduating from high school when I pretty much blacked out walking across the stage receiving my diploma. It goes by so quick, it's like I can't contain so much happiness all at once.

This was it. This was the moment that everything in my lifetime—every stressful day of my education— it all came together into a plaque, validating that I have what it takes to make the bigger dreams in my life a reality.

The best part about receiving this award, is that I received it by writing a personal column. Ever since my cancer treatment, I've wanted to write an autobiography to inspire others. If I can win first place out of all the community college journalists in California, I can get a book published!

As of right now, I have absolutely no time for anything else but school for the next month. I'm excited to receive my journalism associate for transfer degree and move towards the next chapter of my life, but right now I'm in the homestretch at SBCC and it's time to give it my all and focus.

Gotta go write a story for The Channels, catch up on my latest stories below!

Trustee represents SBCC at D.C. summit as new legislative liaison

Board of Trustees approves student health fee increase

Gender-neutral bathroom topic turns heated at board meeting