MARIETTA, OH (April 4, 2018)– Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) Honors Program member Sonja Wooge recently traveled to Columbus, Ohio to present a paper at the Mid-East Honors Association Annual (MEHA) Conference. Wooge spoke on the topic of college students caring for their mental and emotional health.
Accompanied by Dr. Christina Veladota, WSCO’s honors program coordinator, and Associate Professor of Speech Laura Garcia, Wooge traveled to Columbus to give her speech entitled, “Taking Care of One’s Emotional and Mental Health as a College Student.”
Her presentation was originally completed as an Honors Option Project for Professor Garcia’s Speech class where Sonja was charged with writing a professional and persuasive speech. She explained she chose her topic because it’s a message that resonates with her personally. “College students often need to be reminded that you don’t need to overload yourself,” said Wooge. “It’s okay to say this is too much.”
As a college freshman, Wooge admits that over this past year she has had to tell herself many times that it’s okay not to know what she wants to be when she graduates. “I feel like there’s so much pressure for college students to get their degree, get their job, and move on. Quick, quick, quick and now, now, now,” she proclaimed. “I wanted my speech to be one that encouraged college students to understand that even though society may not be being patient with them, they can be patient with themselves. As long as you keep moving, you’re doing great,” she emphasized.
Washington State’s Honors Program utilizes events like the MEHA conference to give students an enhanced academic experience. “The WSCO Honors Program provides valuable experiences for students who are as motivated, curious, and ambitious as Sonja Wooge,” explained Dr. Veladota. “As an Honors Program student, Sonja belongs to a small community of like-minded classmates, who enjoy the benefits of pursuing research in the courses and fields that interest them the most,” she continued.
The Honors Program, while still relatively a new program at WSCO, is continually growing. Among the benefits of taking honors classes, students enjoy smaller class sizes, intellectually demanding courses, collaboration with faculty, honors seminars, and personalized advising.
“Though Sonja is the only student who participated in the conference this year, the other students in the program enjoy similar close, one-on-one communication with the professors who help them with their projects,” Veladota noted. “Our monthly Coffee Hours and activities such as The Banned Book Scavenger Hunt and our annual Poetry Reading, provide opportunities for the group to get to know one another and to support each other as they work on their Honors Option Projects.”
Wooge is currently pursuing her Liberal Arts transfer degree with an emphasis in Literature and has a long-term goal of ultimately earning a doctoral degree.
For more than 45 years, Washington State College of Ohio has provided residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley the opportunity to realize dreams, to enhance skills, and to broaden understanding. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or an adult student looking to move your life in a new direction, Washington State has the classes to suit your needs. For more information about Washington State College of Ohio, visit www.wscc.edu or call 740.374.8716.
