To help graduate students manage the challenges and stress of college life, the Department of Student Affairs at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) encourages students to maintain a balance within the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. The Eight Dimensions of Wellness, as defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), are categorized by the following: Emotional, Physical, Spiritual, Social, Intellectual, Occupational, Environmental, and Financial.
While each aspect of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness are important to a balanced life, achieving a balance can be especially challenging for graduate students who have to maintain academic excellence in a rigorous program while maintaining social and family responsibilities. To help encourage and motivate students, Student Affairs sends out regular correspondence to students with advice and tips for each of those aspects of wellness.
For example, last month, Student Affairs focused on Financial Wellness. The Student Affairs website says:
Financial wellness consists of finding an equilibrium among the psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of your relationship with finance.It includes understanding financial processes related to savings, income, and debt while utilizing resources to achieve long-term goals towards future financial objectives. Financial wellness also includes learning to live within your means, making informed financial decisions and investments, and setting short and long-term goals.
To help students, Student Affairs sent out a challenge to all students to review the Financial Wellness Checklist and participate in the listed activities.
MS SLP recent alum Ethan Germann, who graduated just a few weeks ago, decided to respond to the call to action to learn more about financial wellness. “I read the articles on tips for financial wellness and visited the studentloans.gov website. I reviewed some of the resources and have been utilizing the financial aid office during my time here at RMUoHP as a student,” said Germann. Then he put what he learned into action.
“I have been making meal plans each week, using my Smith’s rewards card and coupons, and creating a grocery list with a budget every time I go to the store. I learned to make a monthly budget, keep track of my monthly expenses, and prioritize putting a percentage of money into savings every week and month,” said Germann.
For Germann, he plans to keep using what he learned about Financial Wellness as he moves into his professional career. “I will continue to utilize financial resources when I begin paying off my student loans in the near future.”
Financial wellness is particularly challenging for graduate students, as there are many who have to take out substantial student loans to cover the expenses of pursuing a graduate degree. That is why it’s important for graduate students to understand financial wellness now and begin putting those skills into practice.For more resources on Financial Wellness and the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, visit the Student Affairs Student Health and Wellness website.
Photo by Scott Graham (Unsplash)
