Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ h w/ fi/iy ^ CHRIS DIXON Asst. Features Editor B urking in the catacombs beneath A Thomson Student Health CenB B ter is Open Door, an organizaB fl tion made up of Peer Health EdB B ucators who consult students on B B a variety of health concerns. B J Open Door has been on campus for 17 years and serves approximately 25 students each B week. Students can come by without an appointB ment and receive peer counseling from a fellow stuB dent about such general health issues as stress management, nutrition, fitness, and weight control. According to Lisa Mohn, director of Health B and Wellness Programs and advisor to Open Door, B^ the college years are a time when students need an organization like Open Door the most. "Studpnts mmp in Onpn Dnnr hp- ?TkA A. f cause I think they see it as a safe, comfortable environment, knowing that pie, an ltfs drop-in and knowing that it is staffed by peers. It just seems like a more com- |||Q tO I fortable place and a less intimidating _ place to come for information. Ifsvery tllBy Wi accessible. A peer may not have all the information, but they can usually relate to the student very well, and at the very least be a support to them." Mohn said she hopes students will learn, through Open Door, to get excited about taking care of themselves. "A lot of people think they have to give up things to be healthy, until they realize how good they can feel," she said. Tve found that college students accept a very low level of wellness as the norm. They walk around dragging and they don't feel good. I V hope people will realize that they really can feel good. I hope they will gain more of a zest for life B and realize how they can take care of themselves, not only to prevent long-term illnesses, but to feel B good every day." Mohn said it is important to have Open Door on V campus because it provides students with a support for healthy behavior, as well as information that is up-to-date and trustworthy. "In college, there are a lot of things that are tempting on healthy behaviors," she said. "We help provide a balance and provide information and support for people who want to learn about healthy behaviors. We make a presence to say that it doesn't W all have to be junk food and it doesn't all have to be f the 'freshmen fifteen.'" UniTAftC w Vki nuk ENTER TO WIN YOU SHOT AT A *10,00 SCHOLARSHIP One student will be chosen to take a half court shot during The Gamecock's first exhibition < November 13/ 1995 Caroline Coliseum Look for the Converse booth in front of the Russell House you can enter to win your shot at $10,000. 5 students will be drawn to win a pair of Voltage basketball shoes 800 students will receive a free Voltage t ^ NAME: J~~H ADDRESS: CZZZ3 ?| PHONE: SHOE SIZE: QSjfiS. 1 * Winner to be drawn during first-half x Sponsored by Garnet Circle ETC. can / John Swartz, a senior in the College of Applied Professional Sciences, has been a Peer Health Educator for three semesters. He said Peer Health Educators set Open Door apart because students often relate better to other students. "Some people feel intimidated by faculty," he said. "The assumption is there that they may not be able to relate their feelings to them and what is going on with them in school. To be able to talk to a student who has been through the gamut and understands things that go on at the university, it's easier for them to talk comfortably and open up a ! little bit more." Swartz said some touchy issues, like weight conL trol, require emotional support, so students are welcome to come back to Open Door as often as they L need until their problem is resolved. spect I enjoy the most is just helpi d helping them learn something ths letter them and help them succeed ant to do here at USC and beyond t John Swartz, Applied Professional Sci< "Wo eonrl nnf momng nn nnr raum atatinnflrv inst L to let them know that we are thinking about them," he said. If they want to come back in and talk they can to get a little bit more motivation. Some issues an individual may be tackling on their own. They may not have a Mend to give them that push, and we tell them that if they want us to provide that, to come back in or to feel free to call. " Swartz said the greatest reward of volunteering for Open Door is helping students learn about things of which they had no prior knowledge. "If they can take something away from either a five minute visit or a half-hour visit that they didn't know before and that they can pass on to someone else, I think I get more out of a case like that," he said. "The aspect I enjoy the most is just helping people, and helping them learn something that is going to better them and help them succeed in what i they want to do here at USC and beyond that. I hope people will learn a new way to achieve their goals taking small steps and implementing changes in their life, instead of looking for short-term solutions that you see so much of in society. Definitely, I want to instill in them that making it a part of -snirt A\V I ? \ kX\V Thursday, November 9,1995. /C/My* a Ssl m their life is the most beneficial, I think that is what ^k Fd like to get across to them." ^k Swartz said he would recommend volunteering ^k for Open Door for a number of reasons. ^k It brings together a bunch of students who have ^ the same interests and want to see others do well ^k and want to help others succeed in their goals," he ^k said. "I highly recommend it to people who want to ^k do that volunteer work and want to help others and ^k to get the word out on health and wellness so that ^k others can do well as a result of practicing such is- ^k sues." fl Before a volunteer can become a Peer Health V Educator, they must take a class in the Spring which is worth three credit hours. Volunteers also take retreats in the Fall and Spring, have weekly staff V meetings, and gain additional information through ^k observations and role playing where flfl npfl- new peers sit in with old peers. Peer "H HCU Health Educators deal with a wide range it IS 00" ?f health and wellness issues, as well " as doing body compositions, taking blood in what pressure and heart rate measurements, and they direct a weight loss program ^k hdta called "Lighten Up." Volunteers are ^k asked to commit to one year of service snces senior at Open Door. "We look for people who are outgoing and who are willing to learn, or maybe have some prior experience in health and wellness, but that's , ^k not required," Margaret Sproule, graduate assistant in Health and Wellness, said. "Basically, we ^^k are looking for someone who is interested in help- M ing other people." Sproule said the volunteers at Open Door have not only increased their awareness of their own fl health, but they have become more responsible individuals. V "I think we have an overall healthy group of individuals," she said. "I think a lot of that is proba Diy trom some or tne experiences tneyve seen at Open Door. Peers have to learn to take responsi- fl bility and they have to learn to take some initiative. They have to be confident and secure enough W in their own knowledge to help a client, and I think a lot of that boils down to leadership skills. They also go out onto campus and make presentations where they also use leadership skills." Anyone interested in volunteering as a Peer Health Educator can call Open Door at 777-8248, or stop by their office in the basement of Thomson Student Health Center. Deadline for applications B is November 10. | ^ I \ m m ?^? rppsfo ^ikA / ^ I *i^flfil ^ I W ? VaI ? u ? the cutting-edge