Marquis Stewart, coordinator of clinical programs, and Quantina Washington, assistant director of clinical programs, led the discussion on baggage versus luggage.
Baggage can be any open or unresolved problem in a person’s life that affects his or her behavior or thoughts, whether it’s family-related, childhood-related, finance-related, etc.
Balloons, scraps of paper and strings were given to students who were instructed to write whatever their emotional baggage was on the paper. Students then tied the scrap paper to the balloon with the string.
Whenever the students were ready to let go of their baggage, they could do so outside. Some students let their balloons go immediately after the meeting, while others still held on.
Too much baggage can be mentally and physically unhealthy for a person. It’s important to stay healthy in all aspects, and one of the first steps in doing so is letting go.
A student read a poem aloud discussing the meaning of letting go.
“Letting go does not mean to stop caring,” an anonymous student read.
Students further discussed the benefits and importance of letting go. However, as easy as it may sound, letting go will not happen overnight.
“It is important to set realistic goals and time to grieve,” Stewart said. “Don’t carry baggage. Carry luggage, the one with nice prints on it.”
Using luggage as an acronym, Washington and Stewart explained what each letter meant and how beneficial carrying luggage can be. Each letter stands for ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle after a person has let go of any baggage he or she once held on to.
While discussing the “L,” an anonymous student quoted, “Love is not about finding someone you can live with, it’s about finding someone you can’t live without.”
Then Stewart compared dating to how a company is run.
“You don’t just hire anybody,” he said. “You go through the interviewing process first before you offer any benefits.”
Students also discussed important questions that should be asked before having sex with someone and left the meeting feeling enlightened and refreshed.
“This was a wonderful meeting,” said Marlena Ivory, a third-year computer science student. “I learned a lot, and I plan to put what I learned to action.”
The next life class meeting will be held Wednesday, Oct. 17 in the Embassy Room at 6:30 p.m. for female students. Budgeting will be the topic of discussion. For more information, follow @famu4women on Twitter or add “FAMU 4 Women” on Facebook.
For male students interested in a men’s interactive discussion group, there will be a Man Talk meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. in the Gibbs Hall lounge. Each meeting after will be held on a bi-weekly basis.
If you or anyone you know is interested in any of the weekly meetings organized by Sunshine Manor Counseling Center that are not mentioned above, please contact the center at 850-599-3145.