Caring Connections Spring 2024: Week 13-- Find Joy

While college may be a cause of stress at times, it may also be a time of joy. You’re learning exciting things, taking a step forward to better your life, and connecting with other students. MCC offers a variety of great opportunities to get respite from your studies. Here are some things that can add joy to your college experience!

• Register for Summer and Fall classes so you can experience the joy of knowing you have the classes you need to stay on track to meet your goals. Academic advisors are available to assist mesacc.edu/academic-advisement.

• Immerse yourself in the arts: mesacc.edu/arts/events. Some performances are free!

• Add exercise and movement to your routine you can use the Art Walk at Southern and Dobson or take the walking trail at Red Mountain which are free to enjoy. And, the MCC Fitness Centers are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and experts to provide guidance. Memberships are available for a modest fee.

• Visit the MCC Rose Garden, the largest in the desert southwest the flowers are in full bloom and fragrant.

• Take a break in the cienega at Red Mountain watching the creatures and hearing the babbling brook may help you to relax to find your joy.

• Take in the last Astronomy Nights show of the semester.

• Enjoy hundreds of movies free of charge through the MCC Library’s Kanopy offerings, or relax and read a new bestselling book (just for fun!) from the MCC Library’s leisure reading collections.

• If you’re looking for events or other ways to get involved on campus, visit the T-Bird Times online newsletter or the college’s events web page (mesacc.edu/events).

• If you are eligible to graduate in Spring 2024, congratulations! If you plan to participate in the commencement ceremony on May 11, 2024, be sure to review the Steps to Graduation webpage for details on ordering regalia and other important information about the ceremony.

• Consider attending a Convocation Ceremony. Maricopa Community Colleges has a proud tradition of offering students, their families, and friends the opportunity to celebrate graduation through convocation ceremonies. Convocations are a more intimate and culturally focused event designed to celebrate students from diverse communities and various special interest groups. For more information, visit our Special Ceremonies webpage.

• Visit mesacc.edu/get-help for academic and well-being resources.

Caring Connections Spring 2024: Week 14-- Reflect

This is a good time to reflect on your semester and give thanks to those who have helped you achieve your goals.

Reflection helps us learn. When we take the time to process an experience in writing, speaking, doing math, or even drawing, we develop metacognition (thinking about thinking), which helps us take stock of what and how we’ve learned. Sometimes through reflection, we find that we’ve learned more than we initially thought. Other times we figure out where we need practice or help. It’s also nice to look back at written reflections to see our progress.

Here are some suggestions:

• Build time at the end of major projects to reflect on your progress.

• Spend a couple of minutes after each class journaling about the day.

• Send an encouraging note, text, or email to a mentor, professor, and/or classmate who has helped lift you up.

Some other tips to help you end your semester on a high note:

• If you’re looking for events or other ways to get involved on campus, visit the T-Bird Times online newsletter or the college’s events web page (mesacc.edu/events).

• If you are eligible to graduate in Spring 2024, congratulations! Be sure to review the Steps to Graduation webpage for details on important information about the ceremony.

• Consider attending a Convocation Ceremony. Maricopa Community Colleges has a proud tradition of offering students, their families, and friends the opportunity to celebrate graduation through convocation ceremonies. Convocations are a more intimate and culturally focused event designed to celebrate students from diverse communities and various special interest groups. For more information, visit our Special Ceremonies webpage.

• Visit mesacc.edu/get-help for academic and well-being resources.

Caring Connections Spring 2024: Week 15-- Finish Strong

You’ve come so far -- you’ve almost completed the Spring 2024 semester. Congratulations! Even though the semester is coming to a close, our support of your success remains steady. Remember, MCC tutors are available to help. Check out mesacc.edu/get-help for other academic and basic needs assistance. Here are some tips to help you finish strong!

• Study for exams now; don’t wait until the day before (or the day of the exam) to review.

• Get answers to questions about your academic studies from an instructor or a tutor. Tutors share their knowledge for free and can help with math, physical science, biology, writing, academic skills, and computer science and CIS/BPC -- mesacc.edu/students/tutoring/hours-locations.

• Test your knowledge with friends or in a study group. (Book a Study Room in the library!) Being confident in knowing the content will help alleviate any test anxiety you may be feeling.

• Participate in Fuel for Finals events hosted by Student Life & Leadership. Details are highlighted in the T-Bird Times.

• Take advantage of the resources and research help options provided by the MCC libraries including De-Stress for Finals week (April 29 - May 2) with snacks and activities.

If you are graduating this semester, CONGRATULATIONS! If not, see you next semester! Don’t forget there’s still time to register for summer and fall. Go to mesacc.edu/schedule to learn more.