By Dylan Loonsfoot
Balancing school, work and personal life can become overwhelming for many college students, but knowing how and when to say “No” can make all the difference. Grand Rapids Community College’s Center for Counseling and Well-Being is aiming to help students do just that with their upcoming workshop the “Drawing the Line: Setting Boundaries that Stick.”
“Drawing the Line: Setting Boundaries that Stick” will take place Thursday, March 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center, room 205 (Raider Grill). The workshop will focus on helping students recognize their personal limits and help develop strategies for communicating boundaries effectively.
According to Becca Lovell, a counselor at GRCC’s Center for Counseling and Well-Being, the workshop is designed to offer a more structured, skill-building experience for students.
“This workshop is different from CCWB’s ‘Chill and Connect’ event series because it focuses on providing psychoeducation, tools and resources on a specific wellness topic,” Lovell stated in an email. “Although all areas of wellness are interconnected and related, each of our workshops highlight a specific dimension of wellness, such as social, emotional, mental and physical health.”
With this workshop open to all students, Lovell noted it may be especially helpful for those who struggle with setting or understanding boundaries in their own daily lives.
Lovell added, “Oftentimes, when students are in college, they are adjusting to a lot of change. Change is stressful and stress has a way of impacting our relationships with ourselves, loved ones, co-workers, etc. Therefore, I think boundary setting can be a helpful way for students to avoid burnout, manage stress and foster healthy relationships amidst the change they are navigating.”
“Drawing the Line: Setting Boundaries that Stick,” will also address a common challenge many students face, but none other than the fear of disappointing others. Lovell said this concern often comes up when setting boundaries and it will be explored during this workshop.
When asked why conversations around mental health and boundaries are becoming more and more common, Lovell pointed to both the increase of student needs and growing openness around these crucial topics.
“College/university counseling centers across the nation are seeing an increase in service utilization as well as severity of presenting concerns. So, I hope that students are having more conversations about mental health and spreading the word about the resources available to help. This can be a helpful way to foster human connection, find validation, support one another and ensure folks get the help they need when they need it,” Lovell stated. “I’d be curious to know why students think these conversations are coming up more frequently for them,” Lovell wondered.
Ultimately, Lovell hopes the workshop provides useful tools, but also strengthens the sense of community on campus.
“I hope that any event or workshop CCWB offers helps to increase a sense of community on campus by providing a space for students to gather and connect with one another.”
Students who attend can expect to leave with practical knowledge and strategies they can apply to their everyday lives.
“I hope every student who attends the workshop walks away having learned something new or helpful,” Lovell said.
For students navigating the pressure of college life, “Drawing the Line: Setting Boundaries that Stick” offers a chance to build healthier habits, take a step toward overall greater well-being and strengthen relationships.
