Channel your election emotions

Serving yourself and your community with positive actions

Take+a+time+out+in+the+new+Drop-In+Center+in+the+400+hall.+

Allie Roder

Take a time out in the new Drop-In Center in the 400 hall.

With the 2016 election ending in such dramatic fashion, America is shaken up, to say the least. In the halls of Carmel, many student opinions are divided between happiness, anger and a whole lot of uncertainty.

While it is easy to gloat when your team wins and grumble when your team loses, it is time for us to stop talking and start listening.

Here are a few suggestions of ways to channel heightened emotions into positive actions and help out someone who needs it. And if you don’t feel like these ideas will help soothe your raw emotions, remember that Carmel has plenty of places that can offer you even more tips, like the counseling department, Campus Ministry or one of your teachers or coaches.

Volunteer

There are plenty of organizations in the local area that need your time and service:

  • Help end bullying by volunteering to wrap gifts at Barnes & Noble located in Deer Park, IL for Bully be Gone.
  • Become a part of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to honoring and assisting the families of Chicago Police Officers who were killed or injured in the line of duty.
  • Get involved with Junior Achievement of Chicago– an educational nonprofit that brings financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs into classrooms from kindergarten through high school.
  • Be a part of your next local election as a poll worker and encourage others to go out and vote in the next election.

Take Care of Yourself

It is very important in knowing that taking care of yourself is just as relevant as helping others. If you find yourself in need of talking to someone or are feeling overly stressed, try one of the following:

  • Carmel Catholic’s new Drop In Center: if you feel overwhelmed or in need of social/ emotional support throughout the school day, plan a visit to Mrs. Carlson and her amazing room of calm and serenity. With mood lighting, super plush couches and lots of coloring books, this room is sure to ease anyone’s worries and help settle any nerves.
  • Head on over to Headspace, a meditation website that promises to act as your “personal trainer, to help you train your mind” into relaxation and peace.
  • Give Simple Habit a try. This meditation and mindfulness app provides a wide range of 5-minute guided meditations, designed for those busy or stressed.

Support Causes and Charities that you Care About

  • Join Alliance for the Great Lakes. Help protect the Great Lakes through restoration and care for our waters. They recently helped push a groundbreaking commitment by local governors to reduce pollution flowing into Lake Erie by 40 percent.
  • With the Greater Chicago Food Depository, you can help distribute donated and purchased food to over 600 soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. Fun fact: they have a “LunchBus” service that serves healthy lunches to kids throughout the city in the summer.
  • Donate your time to GirlForward: a mission dedicated to empower girls ages 12 to 21 who have come to Chicago from war-torn countries. This organization helps these women with various tasks including homework help and college applications.