I have always been captivated by the intricate nature of living things. Growing up in a small rural township in Northern Ontario, I would spend time wandering the bush and exploring nature. All the nearby farmers knew me because I would visit their animals. I thought it was the coolest thing that the cows would come when I mooed at them. 

Physics is entirely driven by the curiosity of people who do it because they love it. It’s an incredible way of exploring and thinking about the universe. Math and physics come together in satisfying ways. I like to open my textbooks, sit there, read them for hours, and do the math in a textbook to see if I can get it right. It’s a very gratifying process. 

I grew up on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in a family that has always had a connection to our community. It’s a large part of why I want to become a doctor and get my master’s in public health: I want to serve my community and be a part of it in an even greater aspect. Now, I’m a first-year senior at Northern Arizona University (NAU), on a five-year track with NAU’s Interdisciplinary Global Program (I’m in my fourth year studying at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan), majoring in biomedical sciences and comparative cultural sciences.

My story is that of a nontraditional college student. I attended a state-level college for a few years right after high school, but I did not end up graduating. I then spent 12 years reflecting and developing as a person. I meant to continue my college education, but I was nervous about returning after so long. I was not sure where to apply or how to afford it.

“Quiet quitters” — employees who are simply meeting their job description — make up at least 50 percent of the U.S. workforce, according to a Gallup poll. This trend has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the workplace got worse for young professionals. Between working remotely and limited interaction with colleagues, employees’ motivation and drive waned. Are you among that group? 
 
Reality Check

I grew up in Montclair, Va., which I like to think of as a perfect 
balance. Located right off the Potomac River, Montclair is perfectly in the middle of a suburban area and a very rural area. It’s extremely humid during 
the summer and snowy in winter, and I could explore nature by fishing and 
hiking. I could also make trips to the city and visit any sites.

After some time away, it can be hard to get back into the swing of academic life. It can be helpful to take some time at the beginning of the semester to situate yourself and ensure you’re ready for what the next few months of classes will bring. Here are a few ways to set yourself up for successful semester. 
 
Plan, Plan, Plan

As you spend more time in the professional world, you may start to think more about where you are and where you want to be. Do you aspire to be an executive one day, or be in a position that allows you to work remotely from anywhere in the world? Are you happy in your current line of work, or is there something else you’d like to be doing? To answer these questions, and make your dreams a reality, you’ll need to set goals, and then focus on achieving them. Setting and achieving goals can help in many areas of your life.

In this world of hybrid and remote work, the ongoing pandemic, and the great resignation, work can be a stressful place. It certainly looks very different than it did a year ago, and many of your elders might not even recognize the workplace as you know it today. In the modern workplace, it’s easy to become stressed, and hard to find your work-life balance. If this is the case, look to your Native traditions to help ground you, and bring some calm back into your life.
 
Connect with Mother Earth

College can be an amazing experience, with tons of new friends, new activities, and new foods to try. At the same time, it can be overwhelming trying to balance a busy schedule and a healthy lifestyle. Healthy eating habits are important throughout your life, but especially during college when late-night cramming sessions and a full calendar can easily cause you to deviate from a balanced plan. Here are some tips to maintain a healthy diet.