FCCLA Attends Mind Bending Careers Conference
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThree FCCLA members attended the Mind Bending Careers Conference Monday, November 6, at the University of Kearney. The conference was co-hosted by Nebraska Career and Technical Student Organizations FCCLA and HOSA and supported by the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN). Attending from Plainview were Marque Albin, Shayla Jacobsen, and Anika Robinson along with FCCLA Adviser Ronita Jacobsen.
During the Opening Session, a welcome was given by HOSA and FCCLA State Officers and the UNK Admissions Office. Dr. Krista Fritson, UNK Team Psychologist and professor spoke on the difference between Mental and Behavioral Health.
Keynote Speaker Kay Glidden, Region 3 Behavioral Health Services, presented on “Daily Stress Hacks for Thriving”. She explained that depression and anxiety rates among young teens in America are on the rise in America. Glidden stated that stress is a part of life but there are daily techniques that we can add to our schedule to reduce it. She shared creative daily hacks for stress management to boost resiliency and had members participate and practice some of the techniques. Members also worked with partners discussing how they might put these techniques into daily practice.
Following the keynote, members were broken into groups for the Mental and Behavioral Health Escape Room. Students learned more on topics surrounding mental and behavioral health before heading to lunch.
The afternoon was filled with breakout sessions. Students traveled to panel sessions to learn more about careers in the following areas: Social Work, Psychiatry, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, and Drug &Alcohol Counseling. A session “Related Competitive Events in HOSA and FCCLA” was also held so members could learn more about how they could turn what they learned about today into a competitive event.
Member highlights of the day were learning the different stress relieving techniques along meeting and interacting with new people from across the state when doing the Escape Room and Brain Activities before lunch. “They really came back from this conference with ready to use skills to help themselves and others cope with the daily stress in their lives.” stated Adviser Ronita Jacobsen.
