A SE counselor shared tips with students on how to remain or become balanced at a seminar Sept. 10.

Michelle Faith presented Keeping Balanced in this Changing World as part of SE’s Fall Learning Skills Week.

“Balance,” she said. “Who’s got it?”

Faith had two volunteers join her to assist by trying to balance a whisk broom upside down with the end of the handles placed on an extended fingertip.

“Balancing something is harder than it looks,” she said as the volunteers sat back down.

Many factors alter balance such as stress, which is the opposite of balance, Faith said.

“Stress affects the mind, body, emotions and behaviors,” she said.

Faith said finances also can make or break someone’s happiness.

“We have to add or subtract something in our life to maintain balance,” she said.

Time management also can realign balance, Faith said.

Participants completed a form that reflected their schedules for work, school, time set aside for studying and family activities. Then they broke into groups to discuss what their schedules looked like.

“Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?” she asked. “Finding your balance will be a vital part of you getting there.”

Student Michelle Barlen said the seminar was helpful.

“It pointed out my need to adjust my study time,” she said.

Advisory committee member Renetta Wright was pleased by the students’ responses to the seminar.

“That one ‘aha’ moment by a student makes doing [these seminars] worth it,” she said.

— George Mizelle