Transition Newsletter January 2023
Happy New Year families and friends!
The start of a new year brings about the idea of change. This time of year, we are commonly setting goals for any changes we intend to make in our own lives. Perhaps there are even bigger changes we hope to see happen in the world this year.
For some, the new year brings a transition to increased independence and additional responsibilities. Transition isn't always easy. It is helpful to have the support of family and friends in order to accept a new routine and also to let go of what was once comfortable. Change is very necessary for growth. We can all get too comfortable and stuck within our old routines, and we may try to avoid the stress and anxiety brought about by the idea of change. However, it is change that helps us to become stronger, more resilient, and better able to face adversity in the future.
As challenging as it can be to face the new changes in our lives, hopefully we can find gratitude for these opportunities to learn and to grow. For our first issue of the new year, we focus on things we can do to help our students adapt to change so that they may experience new fulfilling friendships, relationships, successes, and joys.
Changing Feelings
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a fun and restful holiday season and a great start to the year 🙂
January is all about the word change. I wanted to focus this month on self-care strategies that we can all benefit from when we want to change how we are feeling.
It is normal to feel down or low once in a while - Everyone feels that way every now and again, and feeling down or low is often more prevalent in the gloomy, cold winter months. One way to feel better on those days is to carve out a little bit of time for self-care. Indeed, a little bit of time spent doing something that you know can lift your mood can make a huge difference in your day. Some simple, at-home self-care ideas to engage in could include:
- Listening to upbeat music
- Going for a walk
- Dancing or working out
- Stretching or doing some yoga
- Having a healthy snack
- Cooking or baking
- Talking to a friend or family member on the phone
- Drawing or making some kind of art
- Watching a favorite movie or reading a favorite book
- Playing with your pets
- Styling your hair or doing your nails
And so much more…!
Positive Changes
“If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.”
~Jack Dixon.
This quote about change connects with our Transition values and services to coordinate and set appropriate activities to help students grow into responsible, and goal-achieving independent adults.
This month, I want to highlight two students from the Lake Forest Transition Center that have aimed high and achieved great outcomes this semester.
First, we specially recognize Lucas Cohen. He purchased his very own truck this 2022-2023 school year. Lucas had set goals to earn a paid job, get a drivers license, and save money to make this amazing purchase. We are super proud of Lucas and his huge accomplishment of buying his first car. Congratulations Lucas!!
Secondly, we highlight Irving Ocampo for registering for his very first class at College of Lake County. He will be taking Art 124, Drawing 1. Irving began coming to our program in the fall semester with the goal to be college bound and college ready. We are super excited for Irving to change and transition from his academics from the Transition team to academics at the college level.
