XOXO Leah: Managing It All

How to get your life together

By Leah Keith

With finals around the corner and a to-do list getting longer each day, I often wonder when this will all come to an end. The upcoming holiday breaks will be much appreciated, but until then, we must get through the next few weeks! I recently received a question in my inbox that seemed fitting for this time of year:

How do you keep up with everything?! Gfs, homework, class, work, everything!!!! howwwww

Although you all probably think I am perfect, I do have my flaws. For example, I am a chronic procrastinator, and I find that I procrastinate in every area of my life. Unfortunately, this impacts both my academic and emotional well-being. To cope with the consequences of my own actions, I have a few resources I like to turn to. Of course, I always recommend creating a planner to help with time management and journaling to help regulate emotions, but I wanted to give you some more resources at St. Kate’s that might be useful.

First, let’s talk about resources to support your academic success. If you need help with statistics or are struggling with a paper, book yourself an appointment with a tutor at the O’Neill Center! You can book an in-person or virtual session, and the O’Neill Center offers both math/science help as well as writing support, depending on what you need. When you first book an appointment, you will need to go to the O’Neill Center website and create an account with WCOnline. After that, you just need to remember your login information, and you can book an appointment whenever the O’Neill Center is open. O’Neill Center hours:

Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in-person or online
Mon-Thurs 5 p.m.-8 p.m. online only
Sat 12 p.m.-3 p.m. online only
Sun 10 a.m.-1 p.m. online only

I had a chance to talk with Patty Young and Erin Oakley, faculty members who help with the Writing Center and Math/Science Center, respectively. Oakley talks about how the tutors at the O’Neill Center are also students and how this can help those seeking help feel more comfortable.

“I think that the peer support is really, really helpful,” Oakley says. “Your peers often have gone through that class or a similar class before and can tell you their tips or how they got through it, and it’s nice to know that other people got through it so you probably will too.”

Young discusses how the O’Neill Center welcomes students whenever they need it. “Our goal is to be student-centered and for students to come in at any stage of the process,” Young says. “Come early and come often– that’s our motto!”

Now, if you are looking for resources to address more of your emotional needs, the Counseling Center can be a great place to start. For these sessions, students can schedule either in-person or virtual appointments, up to eight appointments per semester, often either weekly or biweekly sessions. If you need more sessions, a counselor may refer you to an outside resource. Here’s a link to schedule an appointment for the fall Appointment Request Form (Fall 2022).

I talked with current student, Bella Norcross ‘25 (Psychology), and she mentions her experience using the center. “My experience has been really nice. The staff works hard to get you an appointment, and my counselor is very understanding and listens without judgment which I really appreciate,” Norcross says. “It is definitely busy around this time of year, I have noticed, which might make it harder for people to get an appointment.”

Sophie Gibson ‘25 (History, Art History), another student who found support with the counseling services, says, “The counseling center provided a nice landing point during my freshman year. My therapist was such a great support in my life that now I have the chance to meet with her more off campus.”

In addition to the counseling sessions, the center also offers other resources, including:

Drop-In Services
- Crisis Hour, Let’s Talk and BIPOC Drop-In
Group Counseling
Workshops and Group Programming

Check the Counseling Center’s website for more information on their services!

St. Kate’s offers a variety of other resources that can help you any time of the year, depending on what you need help with. Click each link to learn more!