Tausi Wadutumi

When I came to Columbia, I was surprised to find that apprehension about using Columbia Medical Services, known to most students as Health Services, was common. Although I heard reasonable complaints about the appointment scheduling algorithm and wait times, as a person living with chronic illness, the general reluctance to use Health Services seemed like a waste of a valuable opportunity. This is not to say that using Health Services is easy, but that the effort required to do so may be a worthy sacrifice for its rewards.

On campus, we’re constantly encouraged to learn how to cope with stress. Columbia Health suggests that we exercise, eat well, and ask for help when we need it. Resident advisers make bulletin boards that encourage us to get off campus, go shopping, and make plans with friends. The language varies, but it’s clear that the Columbia community recognizes that taking care of ourselves is vital to our well-being and that doing so is easier with reminders.

Alexa Roman is a sophomore in Columbia College studying English. She works with the First-Generation Student Advisory Board to address prominent issues in the low-income community on campus. Additionally, she works with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to improve outreach to underprivileged groups. This column serves as a continuation of Alexa’s prior work detailing the experiences of FGLI students at elite universities. Outside of her work, Alexa can be found worrying her mother about the college experience and romanticizing Koronets despite its subpar quality. She would like to remind you that you are still not middle class. Alexa can be reached via email at alexa.roman@columbia.edu, but only if it’s something nice. Her column You’re Still Not Middle Class runs alternate Mondays.