Social Tigers: Embrace the Awkward Workshops

Communication is key in any setting. At work, with friends and family, and at school - it is important to be able to communicate our thoughts clearly. Social Tigers: Embrace the Awkward is a series of workshops designed to help you improve your communication skills, increase your confidence level related to engaging in conversation, and build social connections with other RIT students. 

Your group will meet once a week for 4 weeks in a row and make your way through a variety of activities, starting on March 27. 

Spring 2023 Workshops:

• Mondays at 5 p.m., Campus Center, Bamboo Room 
  (*Runs every Monday from Mar. 27 – Apr. 17)
  
  
• Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m., NRH Classroom 1250 
  (*Runs every Wednesday from Mar. 29 – Apr. 19)
  
  
• Thursdays at 5:45 p.m., Campus Center 1760, Health Promotion Suite 
  (*Runs every Thursday from Mar. 30 – Apr. 20)

Last Chance! Apply for a Student Wellness Leadership Position
Application Deadline: March 22

Are you an enthusiastic, passionate, and supportive student that is eager to make a difference in our RIT community? Apply to be a Wellness Peer Educator or Student Wellness Ambassador!

These two teams of students seek to increase visible support, conversations, and education while decreasing the stigma related to a variety of health and wellness topics on campus.

Apply online by March 22! You can find the job descriptions, applications, and interview sign-ups on the employment page of the myLife portal. All interviews for approved applications will be conducted in person. Those offered a position will start in August 2023.

Questions? Contact Health Promotion at healthpromotion@rit.edu

National Nutrition Month:
Fuel for the Future

Part of Fueling for the Future means taking care of our planet. Reducing your food waste can help save money and reduce your environmental impact.

Here are some quick tips on how you can reduce food waste:

• Check your fridge, freezer, and pantry before going grocery shopping to avoid buying food you already have.
  
  
• Eat your leftovers. Try taking them for lunch, re-inventing them into a new meal, or freezing them for a quick meal ready to go for a busy day.
  
  
• Buy fruits and vegetables that are locally grown. Check out the Rochester Public Market, where you can meet local farmers and enjoy their delicious produce! Plus, prices are often better than grocery store prices.
  
  
• Use the USDA's FoodKeeper app. This app explains how to store certain foods to keep them fresher longer.

Each week, we are sharing a financial wellness tip to help you make the connection between financial management decisions, your overall wellness, and student success. Money touches every aspect of our lives, and a lack of financial literacy can cause unnecessary stress and negatively impact our mental and physical health.

Credit: What is it and how do you build it?

Credit is the amount of money you can borrow. Once you borrow money, it becomes your debt. By taking on debt and paying it off in a timely manner, you are showing lenders you are responsible with money and can be trusted to handle more.

Once you have credit/debt, you are given a credit score - basically a report card for how you handle your money. Credit scores are often used by vendors when you apply for a credit card, try to buy a car, or even rent an apartment. If you have no credit or a low credit score, you might want to try to start building a credit history now. 

Here are a couple ways to start building your credit:

• Get a secured credit card. A secured card requires you to make a cash deposit when you open the account. The amount of your deposit is often the limit on your card. If you don't pay your bill, the issuer can take the money from your deposit. But, by paying it off consistently each month, you are building credit until you eventually become eligible for a regular credit card.
  
  
• Become an authorized user. This requires that a family member is willing to add you to their credit card. The payments they make are also recorded in your credit file so it is important to pick someone who has a long history of making payments on time.
  
  
• Use a co-signer. You can get a loan or unsecured credit card if someone is willing to co-sign for you.

Some of these options require asking someone you trust for help. Money, specifically debt, can be a stressful topic to talk about, so it's important that you both be upfront and set clear expectations about how any shared account or card will be used. Discuss all the "what if" scenarios and decide ahead of time how they will be handled. Doing this can save a relationship and reduce stress for everyone involved. 

Don’t forget to check out the Financial Literacy website, and/or follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.Don’t forget to check out the Financial Literacy website, and/or follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

For additional events and event information, go to rit.edu/events.