College Senior Graduation Special

The Connected SPECIAL EDITION Vol. 149
The Mission of Crisis Connection Inc. is to promote individual accountability and
respect to end domestic violence and sexual assault through confidential
crisis intervention, victim advocacy, primary prevention education,
and collaboration with community partners.
www.crisisconnectioninc.org
P.O. Box 903 Jasper, IN 47547 24-Hour Hotline 1.800.245.4580 [email protected]
Dubois County 812.482.1555 Perry County 812.547.8 Spencer County 812.649.2303
This ‘Special Edition’ of our newsletter is dedicated to graduating High School
Seniors. It’s been a pleasure sharing with you over your school career and
we certainly wish you a life free from violence! Its contents are intended to
serve simply as helpful resources as you continue to pursue your dreams!
D
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ALLIIN
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WIITTH
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STTR
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SS
S!!
Whether you are headed to college, vocational
school, the military or into the workforce, stress can
challenge you! You may know you are
experiencing stress if you…
 are not sleeping or not sleeping well;
 feel nervous and jittery the majority of time;
 often forget important things;
 get physically sick a lot;
 use substances to self-medicate.
What can you do? Try:
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Taking a walk in a safe area; possibly with a
friend or a group of people.
Taking a time out to regroup.
Eating well. Exercise. Stretch.
Journal. See our website for ideas on how.
Clean your room. WASH your sheets.
Try to get 7-8 hours sleep a night if at all possible.
Don’t procrastinate. Get a calendar planner &
get organized. Plan ahead as much as you
can. Use time management.
You can’t do it all. Use resources available.
Get professional help if necessary. Share
your problems.
Read Covey’s “7 Habits” books.
Staying positive. Help others. Volunteer.
Take it one step at a time!
Keeping keys, contacts/glasses, money in one
place to avoid last-minute panic.
Check out: www.liveyourlifewell.org
ENJOY THE JOURNEY!
Check These Out :
*’Wear Sunscreen’ Song
by Baz Luhrmann
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
*”The Little Engine That Could”
by Watty Piper & ”I Knew You
Could” by Craig Dorfman
*”SimpleTruths.com” website
has great little videos including:
Finish Strong & 212
*”The Last Lecture” video &
book by Dr. Randy Pausch
BE SAFE!
 A great read is “The Gift Of Fear” by Gavin DeBecker.
 Be aware of campus security procedures; workplace safety or military
protocols including those for terrorist attacks & sexual harassment.
 Keep your room door locked whenever the room is unoccupied, when you
are in your place alone and when you are sleeping.
 Take care of your keys. Don't give anyone the opportunity to duplicate
them and never leave a key over the door or near your room.
 Don't leave valuables, like your wallet, bank card, checkbook or jewelry, in
open view. See what type of insurance you may want to consider.
 Keep drapes closed when changing clothes or in the restroom.
 Never walk or jog alone at night. Should you find yourself walking alone at
night, avoid secluded or dimly lit areas. Stay away from wooded areas or
locations where shrubs or buildings might provide cover for assailants.
 Never hitchhike or offer rides to strangers.
 Have your car or ‘card’ key in hand and ready as you approach your
vehicle or home.
 Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in
a place or situation, leave & let someone you
trust know where you are going.
 Always be alert to your surroundings.
 Learn basics as fire hazards & first aid.
 Carry a charged cell phone with you if possible.
o Have emergency contacts programmed.
 Learn to communicate the message that you're
calm, confident and know directions. Stand
tall, walk purposefully and make quick
eye contact with people around you.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT!
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Avoid carrying your Social Security number and 
driver's license together in your wallet.
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unsecured campus mailboxes. Instead, deposit outgoing mail
If a school uses your Social Security number for
directly in U.S. Postal Service mailboxes.
your student I.D., inquire about getting an assigned number.
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Do not shop online or pay bills on a public
In college, request that your Social Security number computer.
not be used to publicly post grades.
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If possible, avoid putting outgoing mail in
Shred pre-approved credit card offers and bills
before disposing of them.
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Be suspicious of solicitors. You should never give
personal financial information or your Social Security
number to anyone unless they have a valid, good reason for
needing it. Don’t share bank account info.
FINANCES
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Avoid credit card scams.
Know the difference between needs and wants.
Credit cards don’t equal free money.
Save as much as you can.
Learn how to manage your credit.
Capitalize on coupons – paper & online.
Get advice from trusted adults on large purchases
Learn about and stick to a budget.
Live within your means.
Monitor your credit reports.
Determine if you have necessary insurance.
Develop good financial habits.
In college, take advantage of student perks like meal
plans, medical services & find best deals on books.
Avoid unnecessary fees with ATM’s, etc.
Get to know university resources regarding financial aid,
student loans, etc. Ask for advice from experts.
Take this free online course http://www.cashcourse.org/home/
BEING WISE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY! Check out: www.onguardonline.gov!
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Privacy is key. Set all of your social networking accounts to private and maintain your privacy settings so
you avoid posting too much personal information. This includes any accounts on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and
any other social networking site you may use. Run anti-virus software on all electronic devices.
Keep keypads locked and passwords private! Use passwords that would be impossible for others to know.
Avoid oversharing. Don't say anything you wouldn't normally share with a prospective employer. Experts
say it's a good idea to refrain from talking about politics or religion at work, and the same holds true for social
networking sites. Any strong thoughts that lean one way over another could potentially rub somebody the wrong
way and smear your online reputation. Similarly, be mindful of joining what could be considered politically incorrect
groups. No sexting!
Be smart about the charges connected with your cell phone and other electronic devices.
Stop sharing unsuitable content. Avoid posting inappropriate media to any photo or video sharing website
like YouTube. Even if you use a different username on these sites, there are ways people can trace them back to
your email address, so your best bet is to avoid posting things there all together. This rule of thumb goes for
sharing content with your friends too because you simply can't control what they will do with your content.
Safely ‘back up’ your computer. No one wants to lose their hard work or information.
Don't look guilty by association. Even if you maintain a private online account, your friends could be saying
inappropriate things about you, posting embarrassing photos, or wreaking digital havoc on your future. Also, if your
friends talk about drugs and alcohol 24/7, you very easily could be linked to that type of behavior. Pay close
attention to who you are friends with online and consider deleting an acquaintance that may say or do unsuitable
things online.
Remember that all texts, photos, and videos you have can be digital evidence.
Stay offline if under the influence. If you've just spent a night partying with friends, keep your computer off,
don’t give others your cell phone or your online mistakes could come back to haunt you.
Stop Complaining. Avoid speaking negatively about school, current or previous jobs, employers,
classmates, or professors. Similarly, don't update your status or tweet only when you have something negative to
say; find a balance so your digital persona doesn't look too disconcerting.
Be consistent. Make sure your job and education information on your social networking profile matches the
information on your resume, or you could be caught lying.
Separate social networking from job networking. Avoid using social networking sites like Facebook for
professional networking, and build up your career contacts on other sites like LinkedIn.com.
Absolutely do not text & drive! There have even been accidents when walking & texting! Suspend
conversations during hazardous driving conditions as well. Don’t engage in stressful or emotional conversations
when driving.
Avoid using applications that display your whereabouts. Predators are out there.
Remember that cell phones have GPS and can be used to stalk. Stalking safety tips are available online
from the National Center For Victims Of Crime and at http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org/resources
A
Allccoohhooll,, PPrreeddaattoorryy D
Drruuggss &
& TToobbaaccccoo
Did you know? * More than 690,000 students between the ages of
18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
* 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 receive
unintentional injuries while under the influence of alcohol. * More
than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem
and between 1.2 and 1.5 percent of students indicate that they tried
to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use.
* More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are
victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. (*From NIAAA)
Other tragic effects include: academic problems, drunk driving,
vandalism, property damage, police involvement, alcohol dependence,
living arrangements threatened, etc. You have the power to
avoid being one of these statistics!
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Get help at www.drugfree.org.
Learn more at www.drugfreeworld.org.
Get smart about predatory drugs such as ecstasy,
ghb, rohypnol, ketamine, etc.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/club-drugs
Suicide is never the answer – 1-800-273-TALK
Dangers are high for newer synthetic drugs like
K2/Spice & Bath Salts (www.drugfreeinfo.org)
Food for Thought - http://www.checkyourself.com/
Avoid misusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs
http://medicineabuseproject.org/ & www.drugabuse.gov
Don’t smoke or chew tobacco.
If you do, quit (1-800-QUIT-NOW & www.in.gov/quitline )
TRAVELING…
Whether you are traveling somewhere on an
internship, for Spring Break or for work.
Some tips to remember:
 Trust your instincts.
 Be aware of ‘YOLO’ mentality & choices.
 Don’t let your guard down.
 Protect your location on Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare etc.
 Get local. Know the area and emergency
contacts.
 Be a good friend. Stick together.
Have a plan.
 Use your cell phone as a tool…including
‘need assist’ quick texts.
 If you must drink – don’t binge.
 Know your limits & boundaries.
Learn more at: www.rainn.org
S E X U AL
AS S AU L T
Willingly having any type of sex has
its risks. Know them! They include:
Laws, HIV, AIDS, STD’s, Consent,
Pregnancy, Regret, Embarrassment,
Religious Consquences, Reputation,
Relationship Issues, etc.
Unwillingly is a tragedy. Don’t rape!
Learn more about sexual assault on
our website:
http://www.crisisconnectioninc.org/sexuala
ssault/college_campuses_and_rape.htm
If you are raped, it is not your fault.
No one deserves it. *Get to a safe
place. *Seek help. *Try to get medical
treatment with a Sexual Assault Nurse
Examiner. *See additional advice below.
A free phone app worth having:
www.circleof6.com
Also be smart about any registered sex
offenders near you. Check the Indiana
Sex and Violent Offender Registry at
www.indianasheriffs.org
Become more informed…see
*’Shadows Of Innocence’ documentary
on Indiana Public Media online.
*http://www.purdue.edu/incsapp/resour
ces/organizations/index.shtml
*www.icadvinc.org
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the fastest
growing and second largest criminal
industry in the world. It occurs when
people are recruited to work or
provide services through the use of
force, fraud, or coercion, and it
includes labor and sex trafficking.
Please get informed. Read all about it
on the Indiana Attorney General’s
website:
http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2963.htm
EXCELLENT WEBSITE FOR THOSE HEADING TO COLLEGE:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/collegehealth/
Also be sure you find out about and use the services provided by your school/s.
NO ONE DESERVES TO BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
HOW TO HELP A FRIEND
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24-Hour Hotline 800.245.4580
www.crisisconnectioninc.org
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rainn.org
Believe your friend. Don’t judge or question
the victim’s choices.
Expect a range of emotions, including lack of
emotion and shock
Be patient. Allow your friend to move through
the recovery process at his/her own pace
Encourage him/her to call your local agency or
the National Sexual Assault Hotline at
800.656.HOPE, but realize that only your friend
can make the decision to get help.
Be a friend, not a bystander. Get involved if
you see someone at risk. You might save a
friend from becoming a victim of sexual
assault.
Check out: www.circleof6app.com
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
Travel in packs. When you go out, go in a group.
Check in with each other & leave together. Don’t
be isolated with someone you don’t know or trust.
Trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe or
uncomfortable, it probably is.
Don’t feel obligated to do anything you don’t want
to. “I don’t want to” is always a good enough
reason.
Watch your drink. Pay attention while your drink
is being prepared, don’t set it down & don’t take
drinks from someone you don’t know or trust.
Keep your cell phone with you & only wear one
earphone when listening to your iPod. Walk in
well-lit, crowded areas. Stay alert. Have
transportation options (i.e. carry cab money or
take a campus shuttle at night.)
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Know the assault is not your fault & you are not
alone
Seek medical attention to test for STD’s and
pregnancy. Ask the hospital to conduct a rape
exam & tell them you think you have been
drugged.
Report the assault to the police. A counselor can
help you through the process.
Preserve evidence of the attack. Do not bathe or
wash your clothes. Put your clothes in a paper
bag.
Call the Crisis Connection Hotline at 800.245.4580
or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at
00.656.HOPE or local advocacy agency.
Find a safe place away from your attacker. Ask a
trusted friend to stay with you.
WHITE RIBBON PLEDGE: … I pledge never to
commit, condone, or remain silent
about violence…
THE PERSON IN THE GLASS
When you get what you want in your
struggle for pelf,
And the world makes
you ‘Royal’ for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what the person has to say.
For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Partner,
Whose judgment upon you must pass.
The person whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the person staring back from the glass.
You are the person to please,
never mind all the rest,
For you are with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous,
difficult test
If the person in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and ‘chisel’ a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the person in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world
down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the person in the glass.
Originally published as the ‘The Guy in the Glass’,
Peter ‘Dale’ Wimbrow, Sr., 1934
BE
And when you discover what you will be in your life, set out
to do it… Don’t just set out to do a good job. Set out to do
such a good job that the living, the dead or the unborn
couldn’t do it any better.
If it falls your lot to be a street
sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures,
sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets
like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep
streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well
that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and
say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.
If you can’t be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the
valley. Be the best little shrub on the side of the hill.
Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway,
just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by
size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.
~MLK
HOMESICKNESS
 Try to stay ‘away’ for at least 2-4 weeks.
 Use positive ‘self-talk’.
 Call home or contact a friend.
 Stay in touch by social media.
 Get out of your room & attend events.
 Join a club or intramural sport.
 Enjoy some time alone. Journal.
 Others are in the same boat, ask someone to go to a movie.
 Write a letter or send a card to keep in touch with someone special.
MOST OF ALL, CRISIS CONNECTION WANTS YOU TO HAVE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS!
Whether it’s between friends or intimate partners, there seems to be certain characteristics that need
to be in place. This includes the presence of mutual respect, a feeling of being cared for, a willingness
to listen, an ability to share one’s thoughts & ideas and feelings of being appreciated.
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Speak Up. In a healthy relationship, if something is bothering you, it’s best to talk about it
instead of holding it in. Communication is essential.
Respect Your Partner. Your partner's wishes and feelings have value. Let your significant
other know you are making an effort to keep their ideas in mind. Mutual respect is essential in
maintaining healthy relationships.
Be Wise About Online ‘Dating’. See: www.thesafespace.org/pdf/handout-safe-online-relationships.pdf
Compromise. Disagreements are a natural part of healthy relationships, but it’s important that
you find a way to compromise if you disagree on something. Try to solve conflicts in a fair and
rational way.
Be Supportive. Offer reassurance and encouragement to your partner. Also, let your partner
know when you need their support. Healthy relationships are about building each other up, not
putting each other down.
Have A Safety Plan. Check out: http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/SafetyPlan_College_Students.pdf
Respect Each Other’s Privacy. Just because you’re in a relationship, doesn’t mean you have
to share everything and constantly be together. Healthy relationships require space.
Create Healthy Boundaries. They shouldn’t restrict your ability to:
o Go out with your friends without your partner.
o Participate in activities and hobbies you like.
o Not have to share passwords to your email,
social media accounts or phone.
o Respect each other’s individual likes and needs.
http://www.loveisrespect.org/college-101-a-guide-to-healthy-relationships-for-freshman
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Be sure to keep in touch with CCI on our Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest accounts.
We’d also love you to subscribe to our monthly newsletter online!
One Last Thing! 
*If in college, go to class! If employed, go to work!
*Take responsibility! *Set goals! *Take notes! *Read!
*Be on time! *Do your best! *Avoid all hazing rituals!
*Respect yourself & others! *Use good study habits!
*Try to understand other people’s perspectives!
*Be thankful for everything you have!