National Men's Health Month
Why Does it Matter?
- Three times as many men as women die by suicide.
- Men are wrongly taught at a young age that expressing emotions is "weak."
- Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women.
- Men are less likely to seek medical help than women are.
Reminder: Speaking up when struggling shows strength, not weakness. Talking saves lives.
Wildcat Alumni Spotlight:
Ashley Aguilar
Ashley Aguilar, class of 2018, is a NYS registered resident funeral director, who has been in the funeral industry for around 6 years. Ashley currently works for 2 funeral homes: Forever After Funeral Services and Lloyd Maxcy Funeral Home. She holds an associate’s degree in Mortuary Science from American McAllister Institute of Funeral Service.
Ashley's proudest achievement is becoming a NYS funeral director. Her journey to this milestone involved struggle, sleepless nights, tears, and sacrifice, but she states that she always knew that she could make it happen. She remarks that she could not do it without JVL Wildcat High School, because they helped her get back on track and all her teachers pushed her, which she is eternally grateful for.
Her advice to current Wildcat students: "Never let anyone else tell you what is possible. If you really want it, get up and do it."
If you know of or are, yourself a Wildcat Superstar Alum who would like to share an inspiring story with our community, we would love to hear from you! Email oantooa_sct@jvlwildcat.org.
Why express gratitude?
Each holiday season comes with high expectations for a cozy and festive time of year. However, for many, this time of year is tinged with sadness, anxiety, or depression. Studies show that giving thanks can make you happier. Ways to practice gratitude include:
- Saying a kind word - The quickest, simplest and easiest way to demonstrate gratitude is to say thanks to another. Kind words earnestly spoken are like healing balm to a troubled soul. Don't you feel better when someone expresses gratitude or kindness to you?
- Asking if there’s anything you can do - Do you know someone going through a difficult time? Put yourself in their shoes. Ask if there’s anything you can do to help.
- Listening intently - sometimes we think so hard about what we're about to say next that we fail to grasp the essence of what another person is saying. That’s a common behavior that can be corrected, although it takes effort and practice.
Resource of the Month
365 Gratitude Journal
This app is filled to the brim with features. For example, you’re given inspirational stories to read each day, it includes meditations that you can follow, it tracks your mood, and you can write journal entries that you can then share with your contacts. For these reasons, it is a great app for someone who wants everything in one place and who likes social media.
However, you need to provide your payment details before you can use the free version of the app. Read the fine print carefully if you do not want to be billed unnecessarily.