April tips for families

With spring underway, I’ve been thinking a lot about this season of resilience, where flowers start to bloom, baby birds learn to fly, and new life is sprouting out of once frozen ground. Like nature, our students are also experiencing the meaning of resilience; realizing their capacity to withstand tough situations and moving forward with courage despite their challenges.

Resilience is a set of skills that you can build, similar to a muscle that you can strengthen. According to this article by the American Psychological Association, resilience is defined as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.” Recently, our students gathered together at our annual Hokie Wellness event called Hokie Hiccups, where participants shared stories about overcoming challenges. This event reminds us that difficulties are a natural part of life – they’re how we grow!

As we ease into April, there are many circumstances that will require your student to dig into their resilience reserve. Maybe they’re diligently preparing for final exams, nervously interviewing for their first internship, or inching towards a long-awaited graduation. For our Hokie community at large, we remember the strength and resilience that came after the April 16, 2007 tragedy.

This month, I offer some words of wisdom that our students offered each other at the Hokie Hiccups event. Maybe you can be inspired to name, honor, and encourage resilience in yourself, too.

• “Your feelings are valid. Be heard. It will get better.”
• “I told myself that I was not alone in this situation.”
• “Being self-aware that you are going through something is the first step to getting out of it.”
• “[I surrounded] myself with positive people whom I trust, and sometimes shared with them a bit about some of my struggles.”

While we may not be able to control all of our circumstances, we can choose to practice resilience in our daily life. Here are some specific tips for cultivating resilience that you can share with your student:

• Meditation, mindfulness, and/or spiritual practices can help you feel calm, and improve your state of mind and outlook on life.
• Build social connections by exploring places that fit your interests and identities like Cultural Community Centers, clubs, etc.
• Boost positive feelings by trying new things, or switching up your routine in small ways, like tasting a new food, hanging new photos, or taking a different route to class.

Thank you for your support as we continue to prioritize the success and well-being of every Hokie.

Amy Epperley
Senior Director of Hokie Wellness