BY MEGAN SEFLER

Two years ago, for my 18th birthday, my Dad did something very unique. Using his eye for detail and his expert DIY craftsmanship skills, he took scrap wood in our garage and personally cut, sanded, nailed, glued, and hand-painted it to construct a photo frame. Inside the frame he placed my school yearbook pictures from Kindergarten through 12th grade and arranged them around my high-school graduation photo. For the final touch, he inscribed my full name below it and added my tassels, honor cords, and diploma. Today it hangs on the wall in my room and reminds me how much I’ve grown and achieved.

BY GILLIAN FORTIER
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A handful of cliché posters papered the walls of each of my elementary school classrooms: a monkey saying “Hang in there!”; a horse, mane majestically flowing in the wind, captioned “Follow Your Dreams”; a team of huskies pulling a sled labelled “TEAMWORK.” My favorite, though, was a fluffy-headed baby, mid-tumble, with the words “The first step is always the hardest.”

Though the posters are corny, I think their message rings true, whether you’re a third grader learning cursive, a college student struggling through organic chemistry, or a an empty-nester planning a retirement party. Everybody, no matter who you are, needs some motivation sometimes.

BY KATHARINE FRAIZER 

Eating disorders can affect anyone. It’s a simple enough truth, but for some reason, people associate them almost exclusively with women. It isn’t bad to hear about women’s experiences and recovery stories, of course, but by focusing on this one group, a huge part of the population is left out: men.

BY EMMA STINSON

Eating disorder recovery is possible and it’s so worth it. But what does recovery really feel like?

​You may not have the same problems of the past, that devil always on your shoulder has finally been put in its place. But why is there still that nagging feeling that you’re still not fully recovered?​

BY REGAN BUCHANAN
Guest blogger and 2016-17 Campus Y Co-President
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Last Tuesday night, February 9th, my dear friend Lauren and I became the next Campus Y Co-Presidents. There were tears (mostly from Lauren), champagne, and a lot of hugs. This sweet victory, I’m told, should be one of biggest successes of my life so far. But as we celebrated, I didn’t feel like I had reached a pinnacle of accomplishment. I was (and am) so unbelievably excited for this opportunity, but I don’t feel like winning the co-presidency is the crowning achievement of my 21 years. So after some thought, I think I know why I feel this way.

 BY SARAH LECK

It's no surprise that Lent can be an especially hard season for religious individuals with a history of eating disorders. The common practice of fasting, along with themes of morality and purity, can be triggering, both for individuals in recovery and who are actively struggling. These practices can nurture an unhealthy relationship with food rather than strengthening one's spiritual relationship, and even act as an excuse to participate in eating disorder behaviors.