UCF Active Minds Grant

8/12/2019 UCF Active Minds Grant

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No-Stress-Fest: Finals Edition Active Minds Event Description

Objective: To create an inviting program during finals week that will enhance self-care

for all students while promoting Active Minds and Counseling andPsychological Services.

Background

Homeostasis is the state in which all the bodys systems work together to maintain alevel of balance (Kottler & Chen, 2008). These include the biological, neurological, and

psychological reactions to perceived threats in the environment. Indeed, the activation

of this response has been well documented starting with Walter Cannons famous

fight-or-flight definition that was later tested by Hans Seyle. Seyle identified three

phases of stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion (Karr, 2012).

Resilience is the ability of an individual, organization, or community to cope with

adversity and challenge. It is accepted as one of the most important defenses against

the negative consequences of stress. In 2006, the American Psychological Association

concluded that resilience is an ordinary reaction to balance an organisms system andcan be learned and developed (SAMHSA, 2012). Study breaks and relaxation have been

consistently linked to better recall and test performance (Grohol, 2008; Guibert, 2012;

Henry, 2006).

Implications

Published research on the benefits of study breaks is overwhelming. All night studying

and cramming have been more closely linked to fight-or-flight reactions than to

effective reactions. Although academic courses create chronic stress, resilience can be

learned and executed from a supportive community. The Destress-A-Fair is an attempt

to combat the negative effects of stress and capitalize on its benefits. The event will

enforce all aspects of the creed by enforcing integrity, scholarship, community,

creativity, and excellence.


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Events

Below is a list of the events which will be at the Destress-A-Fair. We have included a

summary of each event and its symbolism. As perception of stress is the definition of

fight-or-flight, we hope that these symbols will not only attract passive students but

help engage them in ways to combat their stress:

Stress Management and Study Tip Fliers The main goal of this event will be to help

students become more productive in their scholastic efforts. Although studying for eight

hours straight may feel like an accomplishment, research consistently shows that this is

one of the worst ways to study. The UCF Student Academic Resource Center will be

utilized for distributing effective material on stress management, time management, and

effective studying. These handouts (which can be located at

http://sarc.sdes.ucf.edu/handouts)will provide information on the importance of setting

time aside for yourself, getting proper sleep, and how to use relaxation therapy tocreate stronger neural networks. These are all areas that college students need to be

reminded about during finals week and our event will certainly draw their attention to

these materials.

Overcoming Obstacles (Obstacle Course)

University has historically been one of the most liberating experiences for individuals.

While it is truly a great time for many, it is also a time of adjustment and personal

challenge. Its a time that must be successfully navigated by critical thinking and finding

ways around barriers. For this reason, an inflatable obstacle course is the perfect

symbolism for overcoming stress. The obstacle course will be provided by Orlando

Inflatables and is approximately 72 feet long. This will likely be one of the more popular

events.

Sink Your Sorrows (Dunk Tank)

Research has consistently linked stress, anxiety, and depression into a negative cluster.

Although all people are fundamentally good, we do take solace in slap-stick humor and

laughing at anothers expense. Thankfully, this can be done in a controlled and safe way

through a dunk tank. By allowing the carnival goers to envision that the person that they

are dunking is their boss, professor, or someone else that they associate with stress, theywill be able to laugh at their problems in a way that is constructive and positive.

Inkblot Balloons (Paint Balloons)

A hallmark of psychology is the Rorschach test, or more informally known as the ink blot

test. This theory highlights the artistic and scientific parallels of psychotherapy. These

tests arent taken seriously by many clinicians but are still used for entertainment and
http://sarc.sdes.ucf.edu/handoutshttp://sarc.sdes.ucf.edu/handoutshttp://sarc.sdes.ucf.edu/handouts


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storytelling. Creative expression is also a healthy form of expression and art therapy has

been well established as effective as antidepressants. In this program, students will have

the opportunity to throw balloons filled with paint tied to a string at a board. At the end

of the day, the board will be a symbol of all of the stress that students let out. Its

interpretation will show how much stress we all go through and that we are not alone in

our struggles. This sense of community is perhaps one of the strongest forms of

resilience to stress.

Taking Off the Mask (Mask Making Booth)

Many students like to hide how stressed that they are and to pretend that tests required

a lot less studying than they actually did. This booth will help students create their own

paper masks which they can take home with them. Itll remind them to take off the mask

and feel their feelings. Acknowledging the problem is always the first step and this is

true with stress as well.

A Trip to the Beach (Stress Balls)

Nothing is more relaxing than the beach with the clear sky, ocean waves, and warm

sand. At this booth, students will make stress balls out of balloons and sand. This will be

another part of the carnival that they can take home which will assist them in

destressing. They can squeeze the stress balls when they are feeling overwhelmed. The

contracting of their hand muscles will send signals in their brain that the stress is over,

similar to deep breathing exercises.

Conclusion

Our event will help students during finals exam week by applying cognitive, behavioral,

positive, and psychodynamic perspectives. We will educate the students during events

verbally and through handouts so that they can learn more efficient ways to relax. It will

also offer the opportunity for them to express their anxieties and tension in ways that

are constructive, safe, and entertaining.

Documents

UCF Active Minds Grant