The Barrett Honors College

THE BARRETT HONORS COLLEGE At Arizona State University Honors Parents November 16, 2002, Meeting

MIKE WIECZOREK, Honors Parents President, began the meeting at 10:10 a.m. with ANNOUNCEMENTS regarding the Centennial Lecture on Wednesday, November 20. The Centennial Lecturer this year is David Halberstam. He will speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Gammage Auditorium; the lecture is free to the public. Honors Parents will have a book sale and signing at that event to raise funds. Mike then requested that parents bring baked goods to drop off at the desk in Irish A, on Friday, December 13, for the HCC bake sale in conjunction with Smoothies Saturday on December.

The next HP meeting will be on January 25, 2003, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; the topic is The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project. Janey Swanz and Christy will lead a 2 hour workshop for parents.

CHRISTY SOUTHERGILL, recapped FAMILY WEEKEND and updated us on future events. There were 128 attending Family Weekend activities at the BHC, which was the same number as last year. Most came from out-of- state. The Mock Human Event, as in past years was great, receiving a lot of positive comments. Last year we host a tour of the Arboretum and this year there was the BHC Trivia Tour, which were not as well-received and so we need to find another activity for next year for parents who do not participate in the Mock Human Event.

This year the CENTENNIAL LECTURER is David Halberstam, one of the most respected journalists and social commentators of our time. The Lecture, Book Signing, and HP Book Sale will be on Wednesday, November 20, at the Gammage Auditorium. The Centennial Colloquium, Journalism and Our World, is scheduled for, Friday, November 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Agriculture Building and will feature O. Ricardo Pimentel, Professor Stephen Doig, in addition to David Halberstam. HP volunteers will sell several of Mr. Halberstam's books at the Lecture and the Honors College Council will sell for us at the Colloquium. The Book Sale is one of our main fund-raising events of the year.

SMOOTHIES SATURDAY takes place on Saturday, December 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., during Finals Week. Parent volunteers will provide fruit smoothies for a student study break. Parents who are helping are asked to bring frozen fruit, a blender, a wooden spoon, and a 3-prong electrical cord or power strip (if available). Parents enjoy this event the most because it provides direct support and encouragement for the BHC students. This year's coordinator, Nancy Ching, is also expanding our offerings to include hot chocolate.

This year HP will also work with the HONORS COLLEGE COUNCIL to help them raise money with a BAKE SALE. HCC is the BHC student government organization (All BHC students are members.) and they recently lost most of their funding for the remaining of the year. ALL HP PARENTS CAN HELP the HCC by bringing baked goods (homemade or purchased) to the desk in Irish A, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13. Suggested baked goods include cookies, bars, brownies, and rice krispy bars. The HCC officers will sell the baked goods during Smoothies Saturday and will have some games for the students planned, as well.

CHARLIE AND CINDY SHAFER are coordinating the two BHC GRADUATION RECEPTIONS this year. Last May HP sponsored the first one with punch and cookies out in the courtyard. This year Charlie solicited a business mentor and also contributed. The December reception will be dinner at Monti's in Tempe for each graduate and two guests. In May the reception will be held at the University Club and will feature a Chef's waterfall and hors d'oeuvres.

All BHC students have the opportunity to participate in a BHC SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM, which is a wonderful learning experience. Students studying abroad with the Barrett Honors College summer program earn six or seven honors credits, depending on the program, and have the opportunity to experience the same lively academic atmosphere overseas that they have enjoyed in their honors classes at Arizona State. The four programs include London, Dublin, Edinburgh; Paris and the Loire Valley; Athens, Rome, Dubrovnik; and Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile. Mike then introduced DR. MICHAEL JOHNSON from ASU Counseling and Consultation Services who spoke on "Student Stress: How Parents Can Help". The purpose of this department is to help students cope and succeed in school. All counseling is confidential. ASU Counseling and Consultation does not release information about a student without the student's written permission and it does not become part of a student's university records.

Many things can contribute to student stress: the uncertainty in our country, the state of the economy, proposed tuition changes, class or program changes, lack of finances, getting a job upon graduation, roommates, making friends, and relationship changes with parents. In general, honors students fall into two categories: the perfectionist who needs perfect grades, and the student that has always found classes very easy. At the university, students with both of these approaches can run into stumbling blocks. It is important for students to learn that there is more to life than a 4.0 GPA. They need to have good interpersonal skills, to learn to work with others in a respectful way, to be able to present themselves in an interview, to learn problem-solving skills. There needs to be a balance in their lives, especially with respect to spiritual and health issues, which are often neglected. They need to eat good food and rest and they also need to have time for themselves. Students are not taught how to take care of themselves in their classes, but there are workshops on campus that can help them achieve some balance.

The particular stresses students face vary depending on the time of year. Right now the semester is nearing the end and so there are the stresses of exams, preregistration, completing work, holiday social and religious activities, and even going home for the holidays.

Students can also develop clinical depression or eating disorders for which they may need to see a professional. Counseling and Consultation offers student workshops on many topics that can benefit individual students.

How can parents be supportive? Dr. Johnson said the main thing we all need to realize is that we can't change someone; we need to be supportive and share with our students by making suggestions, but we can't make them take our advice. Also some students need to move toward independence in smaller steps, so that they are not overwhelmed, and it is important that both the student and the parent remember not to make comparisons with others.

Dr. Johnson passed out a number of handouts. "Stress Periods for Students" describes some typical sources of stress for each month. Parents can use it as a guide to help students better manage those stressful periods. Another handout was "Parenting Your College Student" which includes "The Top Ten Tips for Parents". Tip number 10 is "Learn all you can about the university," so you know what resources are available. Tip number 1 is "Stay in Touch". Dr. Johnson closed by saying that the worst thing a parent can do is to be too judgmental. The best thing you can do for your student is to stay in communication so that you can be supportive and encouraging.

Dr. Michael Johnson, Counseling and Consultation, can be reached at (480)965-6146 or mike.e.johnson @asu.edu

Mike thanked everyone for coming and the meeting ended at 11:40 a.m.

Respectfully submitted, Marcy Díaz, Secretary