Welcome: We’re all Ears

College is a time of constant transition. New classes, new friends, new boundaries and new responsibilities perpetuate this trend. While change often results in positive growth and personal development it is often accompanied with stress and anxiety. This general college stress can be intensified by the atmosphere that dominates Emory’s campus.

Being a student at Emory allows constant opportunities to challenge oneself, expand one’s worldview and gain a greater understanding of the world around them. The prospects available to Emory students are numerous and the Atlanta area provides constant stimulation and opportunity. Emory students are typically highly motivated and take advantage of resources including study abroad opportunities, on-campus organizations, and Atlanta area internships. Yet in such a highly motivated atmosphere, all of our obligations can seem overwhelming and sometimes stifle self-exploration in favor of being on “the right track.”Emory gives us the chance to better ourselves and prepare for the future but how often do we think about bettering Emory and the community around us? It is important that we take a moment to reflect and work to improve that place that enables us to succeed down the road. Often the discussion of today is dominated by conversations focusing on workload or by the events of a previous weekend or a recent hook-up. While these issues are significant to the life of college students, we hope to help students develop coping mechanisms and become more aware and in-tune with various aspects of mental health and wellness. “Listening Ears at Emory” hopes to create a forum for conversation of these issues as well as others. As Peer Counselors we hope this blog provides an opportunity for us to moderate discussion as well as provide insight. We want to open up the floor to constructive discussion about the issues we face at Emory. Instead of “bitching” about what is wrong with out discussing solutions we are hoping we can open the floor to concerns (big and small) and try to work on finding answers. We will use our resources (the Counseling Center and Student Health) and field questions and topics about what’s concerning the Emory community. We are soliciting perspectives, and will possibly create controversy and hopefully elicit passion. Feel free to send thoughts, questions, opinions, raves and rants to emorylisteningears@gmail.com.